Austin Live & Local Archive

Duncan Carson, David Jimenez & Ryan Cownie

Bios:

Duncan Carson - Duncan is a guy that tells jokes. He lives in Austin, Texas. He has performed at the Moontower Comedy Festival, the Limestone Comedy Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, a few other fests, and been a Finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin Contest.

Every Saturday at 8 Duncan co-hosts a FREE show called SURE THING, at the original Austin Java on 12th and Lamar. He is also the co-founder of SURE THING RECORDS, a comedy record label that will release cds from funny people.

Duncan interview other Austin comics for his podcast Sincere Tweets.

Baby Atlas - Baby Atlas is a roots influenced power trio based in Austin, Texas. Each member hails from a different corner of Texas, and brings different influences to the band. David Jimenez (guitar/vox), has a distinctive sound in his playing, something difficult to do in the electric guitar Mecca that is Austin. He draws on many influences with his soulful voice in the style of Shuggie Otis and Donny Hathaway. The rhythm section of Wendy Simmons (bass/vox) and David Carroll (drums) has a unique chemistry. Simmons, is influenced by her gospel upbringing. She is a multi talented singer/bassist/arranger and loves her some Ludwig Van and George Porter Jr. Carroll, aka Pow, lists his influences as Bernard Purdie and Levon Helm. He prefers grooves that are honest and heartfelt. Together they deliver the goods as Baby Atlas, Austin’s premier roots based power trio.

Ryan Cownie - Ryan Cownie is a funny young punk. But it's not just how effortlessly he plays the star in his own mind, the perfect satire for a culture in which everyone is their own multi-platformed icon. It’s also his deadpan and disconnected ballsiness. At one performance, I watched him riff for minutes with an audience in audible discomfort and mild offense on how men who love UT football do so because they are cock gobbling bottom bitches. It wouldn’t have been funny had it been delivered in aggression; instead Cownie’s act is at the intersection of an autism spectrum disorder and Yelawolf.

Yes, he also does more traditional riffs on relationships that prey on the visual dissonance of sociopathic undertones coming out of the mouth of someone who looks like Harry Stiles' library science alter ego. But the real magic happens when he picks a random person in the audience and tries to initiate a friendship, desperately, with a maliciously sexual subtext that reads like the index of the DSM-V. Cownie’s playful, bright and experimental sense of fucking with you make him one of the most intriguing voices in the Austin comedy scene. That he’s also proficient in subtle micro expressions and ambushing punchlines makes the viewing of his debut short film, Cownie, all that much more required.

Jeff Norby, Amber Bixby & Dustin Svehlak

Bios:

Jeff Norby - The Soap Boxers are an up and coming rock band with a retro sound that brings back the art of being a band. Rooted in the live music capitol of the world, this talented group dominates with tenacity and presence. Their music is honest and compelling- driven by melody, soul and poetic storytelling.

Amber Bixby - Frustrated with life never working out, Amber Bixby turned to stand-up comedy. Her optimistic view of pessimism and sardonic charm has won over countless audiences and won her a reputation as “Comedy’s Sweetheart of Darkness.” Bixby has been a rising star in the Austin scene after gaining recognition as a Finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin Contest, and she has since performed at festivals all over America, including Boston’s Women in Comedy Fest, New Orleans’ Hell Yes Fest, and the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival. Bixby also writes, acts and directs films and comedy sketches. One of her short films Opciono Dos was recently selected by the Texas Independent Film Festival.

Dustin Svehlak - Owning and operating Voltaic Video for over a decade, Dustin Svehlak has had the good fortune of collaborating with the thriving local comedy talent in Austin, TX. Projects have included Ryan Cownie's commercials, Is Hamburgers (Texas Independent Film Festival, Hell Yes Fest), Bless You Baby (Hell Yes Fest), and the web series Pretty Awful, starring Amber Bixby and Katie Pengra. Dustin is also the producer and resident laugher for the Almost Related podcast, starring Norman Wilkerson and Lisa Friedrich.

Evan Charles & Bob Khosravi

Bios:

The Sweet Nuthin - Like so many other bands who have stuck it out over the course of years in the name of survival, The Sweet Nuthin have made rolling with the punches a way of life. Formed in 2011 by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Evan Charles, the band made waves with both audiences and reviewers upon the release of their self-titled debut EP (2012), with the Austin American Statesman affirming the record as “a strong debut” and Ovrld declaring that the band “[embodies] the essence of classic rock.” A year later, they joined forces with Grammy-nominated producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith (…Trail of Dead, Dandy Warhols) to record new material for what was slated to become their debut LP. A short time and a series of life changes later, the band entered a period of indefinite hiatus, during which Charles focused his creative energies in his then-newly acquired role as a full member of fellow local rock-and-rollers The Happen-ins, as well as in his role as guitarist and keyboardist for Nic Armstrong and the Thieves. Though the Sweet Nuthin would remain ostensibly inactive for the better part of the next year, Charles continued to write and demo new material, and in the latter half of 2014 reformed the band with a new lineup.

Throughout the changes of fortune, activity, and personnel, the band’s foundational creative principles have never wavered. Following in the ideological footsteps of The Rolling Stones, Faces, Big Star, and The Flamin’ Groovies, The Sweet Nuthin remain steadfastly dedicated to tight, driving rhythm, interwoven guitars, and concise, hook-based songwriting. Variously incorporating elements of Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Country, Alt-country, and Power Pop, the band has consistently aspired to stretch its creative limits in pursuit of an all-encompassing, genre-bending interpretation of rock and roll music.

Spring of 2015 will see the release of a new Sweet Nuthin EP. In the meantime, the band will continue to hone new material and once again establish an active presence in Austin.

Bob Khosravi - Bob Khosravi was born a baby, which his mother appreciated. Based in Austin, Bob built a local reputation for being deceptively insightful and unintentionally intelligent. His absurd storytelling style has taken him touring across the country as well as gotten him invited to be a featured performer in our city's own Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and selected to compete in the San Francisco International Comedy Competition.

Robert Wagner & Lisa Friedrich

Bios:

Robert Wagner - Robert Wagner is an accomplished rock singer in Austin, TX. Hailing from Detroit and a musical family Robert has carved his own path currently fronting multiple projects including Suede, Jukebox Heroes and his new original band Mother's Outlaw.

Lisa Friedrich - Lisa Friedrich has been acting since she was 12. Starting in middle school for Texas U.I.L. competitions, finishing her senior year of high school by winning 4A state championship in U.I.L. One Act Play and going on to help create and star in a few short films in college, this is Lisa's first full length film. She appeared in a grindhouse short, THE VIRGIN OF PREY and made it into the top 10 of a Robert Rodriguez-sponsored contest.

Lisa has spent the last four years studying and teaching long form improv with great people all over the country. She teaches a workshop for stand up comics to figure out their acting and improv voice. Lisa loves acting and comedy. She can be seen weekly doing shows all over. Lisa has produced a few comedy festivals and shows.

Johnny Goudie, Michael Monsour & AJ Vallejo

Bios:

Johnny Goudie - Johnny Goudie is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumental musician, record producer, actor, and podcaster based in Austin, Texas. During a career that has spanned four decades he has received acclaim for his unique vocals and a constantly evolving musical style with its roots in classic rock.

Michael Monsour - Michael Monsour was like any normal kid in high school. Never a jock, never a nerd, but never stuck out. When he went to college, Michael finally started a new life goal: "No What If's'". Michael took this goal LITERALLY. If he saw a stranger and liked their sunglasses, he would go up and ask what kind they are. If he wanted to know why a girl was wearing booty shorts with giant letters spelling "TWERK" he would ask (and possibly have been slapped), but this is what lead Michael to stand up comedy. With just a little under 3 years of experience, Michael performed in front of over 700 people and was the MC for the headlining night of "MR Fest" two years in a row at Texas State University. He was the comedy showcase before the most up and coming bands went on the stage such as, "White Denim", and "Quiet Company". Michael was also on the "New Orleans Comedy and Arts Festival" 2012, and in that same year, took a east coast tour during the summer. He performed at "Improve Boston" and video complition was shared by the Boston Examiner online. That same tour, he was on the line up at "The Creek and the Cave" in New York City. In 2013, Michael performed in Seattle, WA at "Jhi Thai", San Francisco, CA "Comet Club", and various venues in LA. This past December, he sucessfully graduated college from Texas State University. He also earned a summer certificate at UCLA in creative producing during his last semester of college. Michael has been in numerous national commercials around the country and many independent films as an actor. He was just accepted to the New Orleans Comedy Festival again in 2014 and made it to the finals at Funniest Person In South Texas. He resides in Austin TX, performing almost nightly and travels around central Texas regularly.

AJ Vallejo - AJ Vallejo is an award winning producer, and musician from the band Vallejo as well the the owner of AJ's Live in Marble Falls, TX. He spends his time working on his many projects or relaxing with his family and two children.

Ray Prim & Zac Brooks

Bios:

Ray Prim - Ray Prim is a Singer Soulwriter based in Austin, Texas. Alongside April Stephens, John Ray, Alberto Ferrer, Kreole Randolph and Mike Robledo, Ray takes you back to the days when songs were inspiring, meaningful and thought provoking. His songs are melody-based short stories that anyone can related to. Ray's four studio CD's "This Ain't Rocket Science," "Sherman Ray Prim, Jr.," "The World According to Me and Miss Shenequah Jones" and "Beautiful Mistakes" take listeners on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from laughter to tears. His live shows take his music up a level by adding special guests and frequently having the audience sing along. Hungry people don't stay hungry for long and Ray is starving to make music that will put a smile on your face. Have a listen, spread the word, and it's a guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Tom Meny & David Jara

Bios:

Tom Meny - As the title of his debut album suggests, Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Tom Meny is definitely on his way. Meny was named the Southwest regional finalist for NPR’s 2012 Mountain Stage NewSong contest, making it to the Top 5 overall at Lincoln Center in New York. In October of 2013, Meny won the Stonevalley Texas Songwriters competition and in December of 2013, Meny won the Recording Conservatory of Austin's (TRCOA) Singer Songwriter competition. To date, Tom Meny has 2 million YouTube video views.

Co-produced by Meny and Tim Casterline, On My Way’s ten songs are a vibrant mix of pop, rock and acoustic numbers that focus on everything from relationships to living life with no regrets. Though Meny takes his cues from the likes of John Mayer and Glen Hansard in terms of his songwriting and sound, it’s not hard to miss hints of Johnny Rzeznik’s vocals and the Barenaked Ladies on the upbeat “Make Some Noise,” or the liveliness of bands like Blues Traveler or Sister Hazel on “I’m All In.” “Job” is at once tragic and hilarious as Meny sedately sings “I hate my effen job,” and on the album’s biggest highlight, the stirring ballad “No Anger,” Meny repeats the soulful refrain of “No anger/No envy/No fear/No regrets” to great effect. This last track is one of many on the album which resonate with Meny on a deep level.

On My Way’s content is so interwoven into the fabric of Meny’s life that this refrain from “No Anger” even appears in the album’s penultimate song, “Road.” This lyrical choice helps bring a greater level of symmetry and depth to the album, highlighting Meny’s desire to live life in a way that is charismatic and filled with passion for what he does. By having no anger, no envy, no fear and no regrets, Meny hopes to ensure that his fans will seek out a similar direction for their own lives.

David Jara - The Rafer Alston of comedy. Writer/performer for @stagcomedy, @mascotwedding, and @thehustleshow.

Jonathan Ellington & Chris Fadely

Bios:

Jelly & The Gruesome Twosome - Jelly & The Gruesome Twosome were formed in a labrotory by a crazed scientist. While trying to combine the best parts of Rock and Blues a spill of pure awesomeness caused an explosion. The laboratory and the scientist were never seen again but the next day a spaceship landed in Austin, TX and out walked Jelly & The Gruesome Twosome. Sounds crazy right? I guess you should just come to the show.

Taylor Muse & Mac Blake

Bios:

Quiet Company - Through the release of three LPs and endless touring, the Austin, Texas band Quiet Company has been making a name for themselves nationally with their energetic live shows and their anthemic, dynamic, indie rock which critics have called a mix of The Beatles, Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire and Weezer. They’ve gained a huge fanbase while gathering praise from The New York Times, TIME, NPR, Last Call with Carson Daly, Paste Magazine, Houston Chronicle, Austin Chronicle and more.

Quiet Company won Rock Band of the Year during SXSW 2014, adding to their previous 10 Austin Music Awards including Band of the Year, Album of the Year, Rock Band of the Year, Indie Band of the Year and Song of the Year, all won on the strength of their 2011 release We Are All Where We Belong.

After the success of their 2013 album re-release, A Dead Man on My Back: Shine Honesty Revisited, Quiet Company was featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and chosen to be a Red Bull Sound Select Artist, all of which rekindled interest in We Are All Where We Belong and shot the album to #7 on the iTunes Rock charts nearly 2 years after its release.

After an amazing year on the road which included festival sets at NXNE, CMJ, ACL Fest and more, Quiet Company kicked off 2014 in the studio to write and record their highly anticipated 4th full length Transgressor, their most explosive and exposed collection of songs to date. Recorded in 14 intense days of live tracking at Orb Recording Studios in Austin, the band captured a guitar-driven larger-than-life sound with Matt Noveskey (Blue October) producing and the legendary Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam, The Cure) mixing. Frontman Taylor Muse's characteristically introspective writing style is in full force as he tells tales of love, despair, pain, and redemption, reflecting on his marriage, from burgeoning young love to a relationship tested through time.

With its soaring guitars and throbbing bass lines drawing comparisons to Foo Fighters, Pavement and Manchester Orchestra, Quiet Company’s Transgressor will be leading the way as rock makes a return to form.

Mac Blake - Mac Blake comes from the bearded streets of Austin, TX. He’s performed at the New Faces of Comedy Showcase at Just for Laughs Montreal, SXSW Comedy, the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, Funny or Die’s Oddball Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, and more. In 2013, he won the Funniest Person in Austin contest. Mac is a regular performer at ColdTowne Theater, one of the producers of the Austin Sketch Festival, and has a dumb Twitter handle.

Though most of the band hails from north Houston, The Warplanes did not come together until making their way to the Texas music mecca of Austin, our mistress, our city.

Kevin Flatt - Kevin Flatt was born and raised in Arlington, TX where he began a life of music at an early age. By the age of 9, influenced by his father playing piano & brother just starting to play cello, Kevin was very interested in music and became very enthusiastic in music class. By the age of 12, Kevin began to learn the trumpet. This was really love at first sight as Kevin took off to be first chair in band and orchestra for most of his Middle & High School career. This success was due to an amazing teacher by the name of Ken Callaway. Kevin took this knowledge and love for music to The University of Texas in Austin to earn a Bachelors Degree in Trumpet Performance. Now, With just over 14 years of experience and knowledge from teachers such as Ray Sasaki, Jeff Helmer, John Mills, Ron Westray, & Dennis Dotson, Kevin has become a very well know trumpet player in the Austin, TX area.

Now living in Austin, TX, Kevin Flatt is a well-known and established freelance musician on call for both trumpet and guitar on a regular basis. The two main bands you can see him with regularly is The Matt Wilson Band and Dahebegebees. Kevin is currently working on a solo album in which he will include both the trumpet and the guitar in many different styles. The album will have a few well-known guests and hopefully will be done soon.

Wayne Sutton & Kat Ramzinski

Bios:

Wayne Sutton - Wayne Sutton, the guitar wall of sound, shows his mastery of sounds and texture so well. One of the reasons Sister Seven is such a great live band is because he has been able to take the many parts he constructed on studio albums and meld them into one masterful foundation. His playing is lyrical and unique. Then there is the burning solo on Guilty Sin, a song that originated on the first Sister Seven Album in the early days, and has become a mountain of musical virtuosity. Patrice says with a smile, " Wayne is not only a great guitarist, but one of the unsung songwriters in our community in Austin. His songs are smart and beautifully melodic and they not only charted in the top 20, but great songwriters complimented him on the road and in National Magazines. John Fogerty was quoted as saying that Wayne's song "This One" was one of the best songs he'd ever heard."

Kat Ramzinski - Kat Ramzinski tumbled from her mothers pouch at the age of nothing, less than one mile from the Alamo, which was once the home of heroes like Betty Crockett and David Bowie. This is a FACT. After secretly listening to her mom’s George Carlin vinyl On The Road, Kat began to appreciate the finer things in life, like cursing a lot and handcrafting her own fart jokes. It was the summer of 2008, when she began her foray into Stand Up Comedy at the Velveeta Room in Austin, TX.

Since that night, Kat has gone on to perform at festivals like Art Outside, NORML’s annual High Harvest, Fun Fun Fun Fest, and Moontower Comedy Festival. She was a finalist in the 2009 Onion AV Club FameWhores contest in Austin, TX, and was a semi-finalist in Funniest Person in Austin in 2012. She currently produces a weekly show called Chillin’ with Kat Ramzinski, at the Velveeta Room, as well as her sideproject/comedy showcase Puff Puff Laff. She has had the opportunity to perform at clubs throughout the Pacific Northwest, Dirty South, and Northeast, and toured in 2010 with the Indie Rock Band We The Granada. In the summer of 2012, Kat appeared in the full length comedy Pictures of SuperHeroes from indie-film director Don Swaynos, which debuted at the Austin Film Festival and SXSW, with critics quick to point out her endearing role as a stay-at-home juggalo junkie and mom.

Oh, she raps too. That’s right…. because the world needs more bottom-heavy, polish, lady, rappers….

Whether she’s loitering at her two favorite Austin clubs, The Velveeta Room and Cap City, or eating toast in her adult onesie, one thing is for sure, Kat Ramzinski is knocking at the door of your heart. It is in your best interest, (**open threat**), to let her in. Don’t be a hater.

Cari Hutson & Michael Monsour

Bios:

Cari Hutson - "I hear a lot of bands and many of them are great, but every now and again you hear one that can only be described as special. Heart, soul, and a voice to die for and she lays it all out when she performs." -Scott Ward owner of Strange Brew Lounge Side Austin, TX

Having won the "Austin Chronicle's Best Sounding Music Venue" 2 years running, Mr. Ward knows a thing or two about live music. In the "Live Music Capital of the World", being able to bring it every night is a way of life. Cari Hutson lives for the stage. With a range of styles from soulful blues to pop and rock, Cari Hutson is a force of nature. Her voice is instantly recognizable and impossible to forget. That kind of recognition got her involved with a touring Broadway Musical, "One Night with Janis Joplin," where Hutson portrayed the late Queen of Rock and Roll. Working with an 11 piece backing band, top notch set and lighting designers, Hutson and company tore through 'Piece of My Heart,' 'Ball and Chain,' and 'Bobby McGee' like it was 1969 all over again. That level of performance reinvigorated and reminded Cari of why she loved performing her original music. She returned home with a handful of songs, a new band and a newfound desire: Whether a bar in Austin, or a Theatre in San Jose, CA, Cari Hutson "lays it all out when she performs."

Michael Monsour - Michael Monsour was like any normal kid in high school. Never a jock, never a nerd, but never stuck out. When he went to college, Michael finally started a new life goal: "No What If's'". Michael took this goal LITERALLY. If he saw a stranger and liked their sunglasses, he would go up and ask what kind they are. If he wanted to know why a girl was wearing booty shorts with giant letters spelling "TWERK" he would ask (and possibly have been slapped), but this is what lead Michael to stand up comedy. With just a little under 3 years of experience, Michael performed in front of over 700 people and was the MC for the headlining night of "MR Fest" two years in a row at Texas State University. He was the comedy showcase before the most up and coming bands went on the stage such as, "White Denim", and "Quiet Company". Michael was also on the "New Orleans Comedy and Arts Festival" 2012, and in that same year, took a east coast tour during the summer. He performed at "Improve Boston" and video complition was shared by the Boston Examiner online. That same tour, he was on the line up at "The Creek and the Cave" in New York City. In 2013, Michael performed in Seattle, WA at "Jhi Thai", San Francisco, CA "Comet Club", and various venues in LA. This past December, he sucessfully graduated college from Texas State University. He also earned a summer certificate at UCLA in creative producing during his last semester of college. Michael has been in numerous national commercials around the country and many independent films as an actor. He was just accepted to the New Orleans Comedy Festival again in 2014 and made it to the finals at Funniest Person In South Texas. He resides in Austin TX, performing almost nightly and travels around central Texas regularly. Just turning 24, Michael is excited and ready to work.

Johnny Goudie, Tafadzwa Gwaze & Cody Bryan

Bios:

Johnny Goudie - Johnny Goudie is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumental musician, record producer, actor, and podcaster based in Austin, Texas. During a career that has spanned four decades he has received acclaim for his unique vocals and a constantly evolving musical style with its roots in classic rock.

Tafadzwa Gwaze - Tafadzwa Gwaze is a comedian and improv actor in Austin, TX He was a semi-finalist in the funniest person in Austin contest

Cody Bryan - Texas native Cody Bryan has one of those rich, resonant voices that’s perfectly suited for country, whether he’s rocking a honky-tonk on Saturday night or soothing regret-filled hearts on Sunday morning. WRECK ME (May 14, 2013), the Cody Bryan Band’s debut album, showcases Bryan’s considerable vocal and songwriting skills on 10 strong tracks, most co-written during one marathon weekend in Nashville. Standouts include the first single, “If I’m Going Nowhere,” the love song, “When We Were Made,” and the title track “Wreck Me”. Helmed by producer and Blue October bassist Matt Noveskey, WRECK ME transcends geographic or stylistic boundaries while heralding the arrival of an important new talent. Cody is accompanied by Zach Lynch on lead guitar, Miles Barker on bass, Casey Conway on drums and Cole Gramling on keys to create the Cody Bryan Band! Look for these guys to make an impact on the Texas Country music scene in 2014!

DJ Crash, Ryan Cownie & Derrick Davis

Bios:

DJ Crash - Crash is one of the premiere turntablists in Austin, TX. He currently spins in the Dirty Wormz

Ryan Cownie - Ryan Cownie is a funny young punk. But it's not just how effortlessly he plays the star in his own mind, the perfect satire for a culture in which everyone is their own multi-platformed icon. It’s also his deadpan and disconnected ballsiness. At one performance, I watched him riff for minutes with an audience in audible discomfort and mild offense on how men who love UT football do so because they are cock gobbling bottom bitches. It wouldn’t have been funny had it been delivered in aggression; instead Cownie’s act is at the intersection of an autism spectrum disorder and Yelawolf.

Yes, he also does more traditional riffs on relationships that prey on the visual dissonance of sociopathic undertones coming out of the mouth of someone who looks like Harry Stiles' library science alter ego. But the real magic happens when he picks a random person in the audience and tries to initiate a friendship, desperately, with a maliciously sexual subtext that reads like the index of the DSM-V. Cownie’s playful, bright and experimental sense of fucking with you make him one of the most intriguing voices in the Austin comedy scene. That he’s also proficient in subtle micro expressions and ambushing punchlines makes the viewing of his debut short film, Cownie, all that much more required.

Derrick Davis - Derrick Davis Band has and continues to evolve has a musical entity. The supporting line-up has shifted over the years but under the leadership of Derrick Davis the band's sound and following are leading the the next wave of Austin musicians.

Soulful lyrics and blazing guitar are the glue that binds the eclectic mix of styles that make up the Derrick Davis Band sound. Combining rock based melodies, improvisational elements of Jazz, the dance-ablity of Funk, along with the passion and charisma of folk based signer songwriting - DDB's music has the rare quality of being able to cross genres and bring disparate fan-bases together.

Bruce Spelman, Michael Monsour & Chris Castaneda

Bios:

Bruce Spelman - It is rare when a band performs together for a decade much less two decades.....But Austin's EXTREME HEAT has a performance life that spans five decades. Formed in 1977 from the critically acclaimed band Steam Heat, EXTREME HEAT cut it's musical teeth playing legendary Austin venues like the Armadillo, Liberty Lunch, Steamboat, Antones, and the Saxon Pub.

During the 1980's and 1990's EXTREME HEAT's eclectic, funky, jazz and rock influenced sound was heard throughout Texas as a constant presence in the clubs and music festivals of Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Amarillo, and Tyler. It was also during this period that the band released four albums and were the winners of readers polls and the subject of reviews and articles in music publications across the state.

In the 35 years they have been together, EXTREME HEAT has traveled and performed extensively throughout the U.S.A. They were especially well known to audiences in Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas where they came to represent the Texas and Austin music scene to a generation of listeners in those states.

With the release of a new CD in 2013: Soulstice, and 2 CD's in 2012, Live at the Saxon Pub and Put Some Weight on It ! , EXTREME HEAT continues to entertain audiences with their funky 'old school' sound 35 years after their inception.

Michael Monsour - Michael Monsour was like any normal kid in high school. Never a jock, never a nerd, but never stuck out. When he went to college, Michael finally started a new life goal: "No What If's'". Michael took this goal LITERALLY. If he saw a stranger and liked their sunglasses, he would go up and ask what kind they are. If he wanted to know why a girl was wearing booty shorts with giant letters spelling "TWERK" he would ask (and possibly have been slapped), but this is what lead Michael to stand up comedy. With just a little under 3 years of experience, Michael performed in front of over 700 people and was the MC for the headlining night of "MR Fest" two years in a row at Texas State University. He was the comedy showcase before the most up and coming bands went on the stage such as, "White Denim", and "Quiet Company". Michael was also on the "New Orleans Comedy and Arts Festival" 2012, and in that same year, took a east coast tour during the summer. He performed at "Improve Boston" and video complition was shared by the Boston Examiner online. That same tour, he was on the line up at "The Creek and the Cave" in New York City. In 2013, Michael performed in Seattle, WA at "Jhi Thai", San Francisco, CA "Comet Club", and various venues in LA. This past December, he sucessfully graduated college from Texas State University. He also earned a summer certificate at UCLA in creative producing during his last semester of college. Michael has been in numerous national commercials around the country and many independent films as an actor. He was just accepted to the New Orleans Comedy Festival again in 2014 and made it to the finals at Funniest Person In South Texas. He resides in Austin TX, performing almost nightly and travels around central Texas regularly. Just turning 24, Michael is excited and ready to work.

Chris Castaneda - Chris Castaneda is an up and coming singer / songwriter / guitarist. He has recently shared the stage with such artist as Los Lonely Boys and Al Green… just to name a few. An open mind with open music, Chris plays with an intensity that can only be described as “Electrified”. Always hard at work with his national touring band Pride and Joy, Chris still finds time to work on his solo projects and gig with Grammy Award Winning Artists weekly. Chris’s new project pulls from all his influences and has resulted in a genre defying sound we call Texas Soul.

Dalton Hamilton, John Buseman & J Ray

Bios:

Dalton Hamilton - Dalton Hamilton is a comedian based in Austin TX, slugging it out in south land with his unique brand of comedy and improv. He also performs in the band Danger Cricket

John Buseman - John Buseman does improv, sketch, and standup comedy in Austin Texas. He has performed in the Moontower Comedy Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, Hell Yes Festival, Del Close Marathons, LAFF festival, Philly Improv Festival, and Baltimore Improv Festival. John was a semi-finalist and Joke of the night winner in the 2013 Funniest Person in Austin Contest. The Austin Chronicle has called him “F***ing Funny” so it must be true. He's into jokes and creating memories. THESE ARE THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES!

J Ray - J Ray is from Texas, therefore, f@#k you. He records and plays his own music, drinks milk straight from the carton, was in love once but doesn’t sing about it because he’s a man, and finally, the silent savior of mankind.

Ryan Harkrider, Jack Burton & Vanilla Presley

Vanilla Presley - Vanilla Presley is a comedic rap duo comprised of Austin, TX stand up comics- Pat Sirois and Lane Krarup. Both began their creative pursuits in rapping well before they began telling jokes on stage. When fellow comedian Bob Khosravi asked for a song to go with his monthly themed story telling show, The Mission- they realized they could combine the two genres- forming the celebrated rap duo Vanilla Presley. With a catalog of songs ranging from King Kong and Godzilla falling in love, to the strange world of sex dreams, Vanilla Presley combines hilarious concepts with polished, well-crafted raps. Whether you're listening for a good laugh or a good rap, VP is sure to impress.

Jack Burton - Born in Austin and raised on Bar-B-Q and tamales in Lockhart TX, Jack Burton loves to bring a tasty groove so you can shake what your mama gave ya.

His 9-piece soul smorgasbord, the aptly named “Jack Burton Trio”, was voted one of the Top 10 live performing bands in the Blues category of the 2014 Austin Music Awards.

“I guess I’d call it ‘Austin Soul’ if I had to nail it down. Austin’s got such a great history for Blues and Rock and it just seems to creep into the Soul sound that we start from,” says Burton. “It’s like a good brisket: first you take a nice juicy cut of Soul and rub it down with the Blues, then spice it up with plenty of Funk, and throw in a pinch of Southern Rock for sweetness. Then slow cook it in a hot sweaty love oven until it’s dripping with groove.”

With more than 15 years of writing and performing everything from Roots Rock, Hip Hop, to Gospel and Alt Rock, Jack has developed a soulful sound infused with the best flavors of all his past projects.

You’ll find Jack serving up his brand of Soul backed by his 9-piece Jack Burton Trio, all lonely-like with his acoustic guitar and versatile voice, or fronting the Motown, Soul & Funk show band The All Nights.

Danny Crooks, Lucas Molandes & Soul Track Mind

Bios:

Danny Crooks - Danny Crooks is an open-book enigma. He’s a mystery, yet wears his heart on his sleeve. The music impresario of 6th Street in Austin, TX has “developed” more musicians than the law should allow. And although his dream boat, Steamboat, no longer exists, his heart is still in the music that made it great. A difficult childhood hasn’t stopped the man that brought Music to 6th Street. Danny outran the demons from his childhood, proving that “if you WANT a good life badly enough, you can accomplish anything!” He has passed that mantra on to every one of the bands that came to Steamboat, looking for the opportunity to prove themselves. Every budding musician felt he or she was going to be the next Beatle. But only if Danny “felt” their music, did they get the chance to become famous. Danny Crooks lives in Buda, Texas with his wife, Leslie, and their musician son, Sean.

Lucas Molandes - Lucas Mondales: Widely hailed by critics and colleagues as a defining talent of the Austin comedy scene, Lucas Molandes has an impressive list of accomplishments that include appearances at the prestigious Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” and twice appearing on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast.

Most recent, Lucas has split his time between Austin and New York, where he was a writer for season 1 of MTV's Failosophy, and MTV 2's season 3 of The Guy Code.

To call Lucas’s inimitable brand of comedy “observational” would be a gross understatement – he operates on an X-ray level, seeking out the dark and dusty corners of the human condition and relishing every opportunity to pick awkward truths and embarrassing gems from the wriggling bones of personal failures, weaknesses, unrequited expectations and (of course) love.

Soul Track Mind - Featured on the summer 2013 cover of Texas Music magazine, Soul Track Mind infuses soul and R&B with flares of funk, rock, and dance rhythms in a modern sound deeply rooted in retro convictions. Since the band's inception in 2008, whirlwind frontman Donovan Keith and the dapper disciples of Soul Track Mind have become synonymous with wildly entertaining shows that have made them a force to reckon with in the modern soul genre.

AJ Vallejo, Zac Brooks & The Belle Sounds

Bios:

AJ Vallejo - AJ Vallejo is an award winning producer, and musician from the band Vallejo as well the the owner of AJ's Live in Marble Falls, TX. He spends his time working on his many projects or relaxing with his family and two children.

Zac Brooks - Zac Brooks is an up and coming comedian in Austin, TX

The Belle Sounds - The beguiling charm, harmonic exquisiteness and lyrical depth of The Belle Sounds’ sound is not easy to compare. Fleetwood Mac, The Shins, Amy Mann, Juliana Hatfield and Neko Case don’t have too much in common, but have all been compared to this new Austin band. But the fact, is, the Belle Sounds are always at their best when they sound most like The Belle Sounds.

Texas music icon Jon Dee Graham and his son William Harries Graham, who is following his father’s musical path, testified to both the band’s originality and its generational crossover appeal when they told The Belle Sounds, “No one is doing what you are doing”. The Austin Chronicle’s Michael Corcoran says, “The Belle Sounds are their own thing”. The Belle Sounds are unique, fresh and original, and simply need to be heard.

Noëlle Hampton (guitar/keys/vocals), André Moran (electric guitar) and Emily Shirley (keys/guitar/synth/vocals) make up the core band, along with various talented bass players and drummers that grace the stage to create this melodic and evolving sound.

Mike Blizzard, Luke McClory & The Sideshow Tragedy

Bios:

Mike Blizzard - Mike Blizzard is an Austin-based PR consultant & filmmaker known for his strategic innovation, creative advertising and “deal-brokering savvy.” Mike serves on the board of the Austin Film Society and lives in South Austin with his wife Karen and two rowdy dogs.

Mike is a co-producer of the upcoming documentary "No No A Dockumentary" about the life of Dock Ellis.

Luke McClory - Luke McClory is repairing old barriers in comedy. His reverent, conventional style is the basis for some of the most on-the-wall material you'll ever hear. He cares very deeply who he hurts.

The Sideshow Tragedy - 2014 is shaping up to be a big year for Austin TX blues punks The Sideshow Tragedy: the band is currently finishing up songs for their fifth LP, which will be recorded later this spring at Old Soul Studios in New York and produced by Kenny Siegal(Chris Whitley,Langhorne Slim, Beirut, Joseph Arthur, New Pornographers). They will be touring the South and Northeast during this time as well, and are gearing up for their second European tour in the Fall.

Ter'ell Shahid, Lashonda Lester & Charlie Gore

Bios:

Ter'ell Shahid - Ter'ell Shahid has been in the Austin scene for many years. He writes, produces, mixes and masters music for many wellknown local artists. He also managed Spirits Night Club on historic 6th Street in downtown Austin through the mid 90's, and was part-owner of his own venue "One15" from 2006 through 2009. He was a member of the Austin Music Commission from 2009 through 2011, and has music that has been placed in TV, Radio, and Film. He is currently being sought out by several production teams & has joined Big G Artists Booking Agency in Louisiana. Ter'ell recently released his ﬁfth solo album entitled "Cornbread".

Lashonda Lester - Originally from Detroit, Lashonda Lester has been working in entertainment in some capacity for over 20 years. She's the creator, star and executive producer of "Weird! True Hollywood Tales", a biography lecture series about strange or mysterious Hollywood tragedies, now in its third season.

Lester also took 3rd place in the 2014 Funniest In Person Austin contest, and has opened for comedy heavyweights such as Earthquake, Rickey Smiley, Kyle Kinane, SNL alumnus Finesse Mitchell, Godfrey, and legendary Grammy Award winning band; Earth, Wind, and Fire!

What else?? She recently made her national television debut for Nickelodeon's NickMom Night Out comedy showcase. When she’s not performing comedy, Lashonda enjoys buying frivolous items on eBay, keeping up with the latest conspiracy theories and spending time with her family.

Charlie Gore - Charlie Gore is a twenty-five year old singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas with a passion for performing live. Seven years after first picking up a guitar, Charlie creates music that tugs on your soul and makes you tap your feet all at the same time. He brings energy, passion and humbleness to his live shows that makes you feel like he is singing directly to you. Currently involved in a singer/songwriter club alongside Ernie Halter, Melissa Polinar, David Ryan Harris, Adam Levy and others, his writing and horizons are always expanding and exploring different themes, viewpoints and aesthetics of his craft.

Charlie Hodge, Jeff Norby & Chris Fadely

Bios:

Charlie Hodge - Born on the very day that Baby Jessica’s parents conceived the very baby that fell down that very well all those years later. Also…Charlie Hodge, formerly one-third of the morning radio trio on The Dudley and Bob Show, has launched his own four-hour midday program featuring his brand of idiosyncratic comedy (complete with impressions of notable local figures George W. Bush, the Whataburger dude, and the Lockhart sausage – yes, he impersonates a sausage) mixed with tried and true rock & roll standards. Hodge was previously anchoring an hourlong noon show by himself but this year has taken on a sidekick, veteran Austin comedian Matt Sadler, who reins Hodge in and keeps his comedy on track. Given the synergy created by this teaming, it’s no wonder our readers have pegged Hodge as the best radio chatter in Austin.

Jeff Norby - The Soap Boxers are the retro side of rock music that brings back the art of being a band. Formed in the live music homeland of Austin Texas, this talented and seasoned group dominates with tenacity and presence, with each member skillfully bringing their own unique element to the group. Their live show is pure and driven by the strength of their musical convictions, which remain rooted in vocal and melodic truth.

Chris Fadely - Chris Fadely is one half of the Gruesome Twosome, the greatest rhythm section in the world and Berklee trained drummer. He enjoys Pantera, Dogs, Metal and long walks on the beach.

Duncan Carson, Matt Giles & Jimmy Tibbs

Bios:

Duncan Carson - I am a guy that tells jokes. I live in Austin, Texas. I have performed at the Moontower Comedy Festival, the Limestone Comedy Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, a few other fests, and been a Finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin Contest.

Every Saturday at 8 I co-host a FREE show called SURE THING, at the original Austin Java on 12th and Lamar. I am also the co-founder of SURE THING RECORDS, a comedy record label that will release cds from funny people.

I interview other Austin comics for my podcast Sincere Tweets, which you can subscribe to on iTunes here. You can email me at adcarson at gmail dot com if you'd like, or bother me on twitter. Enjoy your day.

Matt Giles - I've been playing guitar and singing in Austin, Texas for over 23 years. I've had the good fortune to play with many great artists like The Drakes, Woodsboss, Tanya Winch, Marcia Ball, Toni Price, and many others. I also write songs, do studio sessions and teach. Currently, I'm playing with the Drakes, Tanya Winch, Woodsboss, The Stir, Amanda Pearcy, Jane Bond, and occasionally fill in with Beth Lee and Penney Jo Pullus.

Jimmy Tibbs - Jimmy Tibbs is an up and coming comedian originally from New Orleans now living in Austin, TX.

John Pointer, Pat Dean & Kevin Flatt

Bios:

John Pointer - John Pointer: multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, composer, activist, and performer. Known for his cross-pollination of genres and use of standard instruments in non-standard ways. Just finished touring with The House Jacks based in San Francisco, CA, Trio Los Vigilantes based in Austin, TX, and as a solo artist, educator, and clinician.

Pat Dean - Pat Dean is a comedian in Austin, TX. He plays the banjo and likes pancakes.

Kevin Flatt - Kevin Flatt was born and raised in Arlington, TX where he began a life of music at an early age. By the age of 9, influenced by his father playing piano & brother just starting to play cello, Kevin was very interested in music and became very enthusiastic in music class. By the age of 12, Kevin began to learn the trumpet. This was really love at first sight as Kevin took off to be first chair in band and orchestra for most of his Middle & High School career. This success was due to an amazing teacher by the name of Ken Callaway. Kevin took this knowledge and love for music to The University of Texas in Austin to earn a Bachelors Degree in Trumpet Performance. Now, With just over 14 years of experience and knowledge from teachers such as Ray Sasaki, Jeff Helmer, John Mills, Ron Westray, & Dennis Dotson, Kevin has become a very well know trumpet player in the Austin, TX area.

Now living in Austin, TX, Kevin Flatt is a well-known and established freelance musician on call for both trumpet and guitar on a regular basis. The two main bands you can see him with regularly is The Matt Wilson Band and Dahebegebees. Kevin is currently working on a solo album in which he will include both the trumpet and the guitar in many different styles. The album will have a few well-known guests and hopefully will be done soon.

Jay Styles, Bob Khosravi & Cosmic Wolf

Jay Styles - New York born, southern adopted… I have lived all over from Florida to the Grand Cayman Islands. I am tall, I love food, Bon Jovi, and all animals.

Bob Khosravi - Bob Khosravi was born a baby, which his mother appreciated. After years of experimentation he perfected blending his foreign last name with a really American first name.

An absurd storyteller hailing from Austin, Texas, Bob has been a featured performer in the Art Outside festival, alongside Moshe Kasher and Shane Mauss, as well as the MoonTower Comedy Festival in Austin, TX. Having hosted and featured at Cap City Comedy Club and headlined the infamous Velveeta Room, Bob has solidified his place in the local comedy community as well as on the road. Khosravi's comedy has been described as bright and engaging with a subtle sense of darkness.

Cosmic Wolf - COSMIC WOLF is THE new rock/alternative band that will be erupting it's way onto the music scene!

The band was formed in May 2012 by singer/guitarist Yayo Sanchez and guitarist/singer Chris Iorio (Adelita's Way co-founder). Soon after the band's formation, drummer Chris Copeland and bassist Jarrett Smith came in to complete the band's dynamic lineup.

They have combined signature blazing guitar riffs, thunderous drums, pulsing bass lines, along with massive soaring choruses that already have people around the world saying they can see the Cosmic Wolf playing their local arena! Don't be fooled!! Cosmic Wolf is not just your typical rock band. Not only is their sound explosive, their songs possess the ever needed ability to cross-over into other genres and formats.

Father Rhyme, Marcellus Crayton & Les Fisher

Bios:

Father Rhyme - Father Rhyme is the Front Man for the band Fremen and a solo Hip-Hop act in Austin, Texas. Rap vocals over soul music.

Marcellus Crayton - Marcellus Crayton is a Austin, Texas native who has always known he was funny, but never thought he had what it took to become a comedian. His journey as a professional comedian started 3 years ago, when he took on a dare from a group of friends and he performed standup comedy at a local comedy club. Marcellus' act received critical acclaim from several comedic veterans, who carry under their belts decades of being in the business. After the first performance he knew that he had found his calling of being a stand-up comedian . Crayton has since won a comedy competition and has performed on two comedy tours throughout the state of Texas. He has also opened for several locally acclaimed comedians as well as a few well known comedians. Adding to his list of talents, Marcellus recently ventured into the television industry. The now comedian actor landed a commercial upon his first audition, He is currently working on supporting other charity events and furthering his career in comedy.

Les Fisher - The Funk Mob lay down an intense, groove-ridden funk and soul so old school it will take you back. Then, they’ll bring you back with the undeniable sounds of today’s hottest Top 40, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. This Texas based band contains a lineup of the most accomplished musicians playing in this genre anywhere. Known for its unparalleled stage performance and ability to connect and engage its crowd, The Funk Mob consistently pushes stylistic boundaries while embracing a treasured old school tradition. Anchored by a seamless rhythm lineup, and fronted with an ensemble of the most powerful, soulful, and smoothest vocals in the business, this team of funkmeisters unites for one multi-dimensional sound.

The Funk Mob’s musicianship has enabled them to perform with greats like Patti LaBelle, Larry Braggs with Tower of Power, and Az Yet, The Funk Mob is setting new standards for excellence with its ever-growing fan base. Their inspiring, energetic and funky groove keeps the dance floor packed and the party rolling.

Adam Stockstill, Ryan Cownie & Ady Hernandez

Bios:

Adam Stockstill - Adam Stockstill has worked in the Austin music and Bar scene since the 90's with many top local talents. He now spends his time with his family, managing Little Woodrow's Southpark Meadows and as a freelance photographer

Ryan Cownie - Ryan Cownie is a funny young punk. But it's not just how effortlessly he plays the star in his own mind, the perfect satire for a culture in which everyone is their own multi-platformed icon. It’s also his deadpan and disconnected ballsiness. At one performance, I watched him riff for minutes with an audience in audible discomfort and mild offense on how men who love UT football do so because they are cock gobbling bottom bitches. It wouldn’t have been funny had it been delivered in aggression; instead Cownie’s act is at the intersection of an autism spectrum disorder and Yelawolf.

Yes, he also does more traditional riffs on relationships that prey on the visual dissonance of sociopathic undertones coming out of the mouth of someone who looks like Harry Stiles' library science alter ego. But the real magic happens when he picks a random person in the audience and tries to initiate a friendship, desperately, with a maliciously sexual subtext that reads like the index of the DSM-V. Cownie’s playful, bright and experimental sense of fucking with you make him one of the most intriguing voices in the Austin comedy scene. That he’s also proficient in subtle micro expressions and ambushing punchlines makes the viewing of his debut short film, Cownie, all that much more required.

Ady Hernandez - DaHeBeGeBeeS spawned from the very vibrant musical melting pot that is Austin TX. Austin’s mix of Blues, Rock, Latin, Funk, and Soul helped in the making of Dahebegebees sound.

Ady Hernandez (guitar/lead vocals) a 3rd generation musician, started the group originally with Cecilio Ruiz and Jonas Saks in the late 90′s and today, the band includes D WaTz (drums/vocals), Aaron Hatmaker (bass) and Miguel McDonald (vocals) with horn section Kevin Flatt (trumpet), Paul Deemer (trombone) and Mitch Quintanilla (sax). Together, they have played countless shows traveling miles across the U.S., forging this band into a tight, powerful unit.

Since then the band has made its name into some of the most elite circles in the music game from Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, War, Heart, Little Joe Y La Familia, Toby Keith, Ja rule, Malo, El Chicano, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson and many more. Dahebegebees have created a fresh sound with thoroughly danceable groove-based songs compiled with melody, lots of harmonies, hooks galore and, above all, substance. The group is musically sophisticated with marathon live performances drawing from such artist like Santana, Maceo Parker, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews, and D’angelo. This band will put your soul in a happy place.

Dahebegebees are performing and touring in promotion of their latest CD, Grateful, so be on the lookout in a city near you.

Michael Monsour & Bobbi Jean

Bios:

Bobbi Jean - Passionate. Sensual. Feisty. These are just a few words that sum up the artist which is Bobbi Jean/The 5th Element. Bobbi has an uncanny knack for fluid melodies, catchy hooks and eye popping movements. Whether it's a brooding, forlorn ballad or a certified 'club banger', Miss Bobbi Jean delivers the goods with the type of effort most dream to accomplish. Don't just take our word for it, see for yourself......

Michael Monsour - Michael Monsour was like any normal kid in high school. Never a jock, never a nerd, but never stuck out. When he went to college, Michael finally started a new life goal: "No What If's'". Michael took this goal LITERALLY. If he saw a stranger and liked their sunglasses, he would go up and ask what kind they are. If he wanted to know why a girl was wearing booty shorts with giant letters spelling "TWERK" he would ask (and possibly have been slapped), but this is what lead Michael to stand up comedy. With just a little under 3 years of experience, Michael performed in front of over 700 people and was the MC for the headlining night of "MR Fest" two years in a row at Texas State University. He was the comedy showcase before the most up and coming bands went on the stage such as, "White Denim", and "Quiet Company". Michael was also on the "New Orleans Comedy and Arts Festival" 2012, and in that same year, took a east coast tour during the summer. He performed at "Improve Boston" and video complition was shared by the Boston Examiner online. That same tour, he was on the line up at "The Creek and the Cave" in New York City. In 2013, Michael performed in Seattle, WA at "Jhi Thai", San Francisco, CA "Comet Club", and various venues in LA. This past December, he sucessfully graduated college from Texas State University. He also earned a summer certificate at UCLA in creative producing during his last semester of college. Michael has been in numerous national commercials around the country and many independent films as an actor. He was just accepted to the New Orleans Comedy Festival again in 2014 and made it to the finals at Funniest Person In South Texas. He resides in Austin TX, performing almost nightly and travels around central Texas regularly. Just turning 24, Michael is excited and ready to work.

Meggan Carney, JR Brow & KP and the Boom Boom

Bios:

Meggan Carney - Meet indie-folk pysch-rock singer-songwriter Meggan Carney. Effortlessly she uses her haunting range to paint a perfect portrait of fantastical youth, with shredding guitar and classical piano interludes giving way to multi-layered paeans of harmonious sound. Her music is enchanting, romantic, and organic; a tender young woman's tales spun into a raw and fearless web of psych-electronic sonance

JR Brow - J.R. Brow went to college, became a standup comic, and eventually toured 49 states and 4 continents with his guitar in hand. His original standup comedy instantly won over young and old fans alike. Almost immediately, J.R. marched to the finals of the San Francisco Comedy Competition. He has opened for performers like Dana Carvey, Ray Romano, Bill Hicks, and Steven Wright. He's recently been featured on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" and CBS’s "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" as well as many other television spots along the way.

Like the rarest of breeds, J.R. electrifies audiences with his high energy storytelling and spot-on mimicry. When his guitar comes into the act, the originality peaks with his unique musical prowess. Brow's comedy can be heard on his current CD, "Dumber By The Decade" and read in his upcoming memoir, "The Ancient Greeks Had Nothing On Me."

J.R. lives in Austin, travels forty-plus weeks a year, and is constantly writing new bits. In his free time, he collects Japanese guitars and rare vinyl records.

KP and the Boom Boom - KP and the Boom Boom formed in the fall of 2010 in Austin, TX. They made major waves around town in 2013, releasing a three-track EP produced by AJ Vallejo, debuting a music video for their single, “Feel It,” and stirring up buzz with a multitude of high-energy performances.

Come see a show and you’ll realize why the band has garnered such a strong following. Frontwoman Kate Priestley sparkles with energy at center stage. Surrounding her, her six bandmates command a critical mass of instruments—in addition to guitar, bass, and drums, there are two members blowing on horns and another switching off between a vibraphone, timbales, bongos, congas, and other assorted percussion. The crowd hugs the stage, pulsing to a singular groove.

Inevitably, your feet start to move and the scene pulls you in. Within the sweaty depths of the dance mob, what started as a spectacle starts to feel more like a happening.

Ray Prim, Jay Whitecotton & Tameca Jones

Bios:

Ray Prim - Ray Prim is a Singer Soulwriter based in Austin, Texas. Alongside April Stephens, John Ray, Alberto Ferrer, Kreole Randolph and Mike Robledo, Ray takes you back to the days when songs were inspiring, meaningful and thought provoking. His songs are melody-based short stories that anyone can related to. Ray's four studio CD's "This Ain't Rocket Science," "Sherman Ray Prim, Jr.," "The World According to Me and Miss Shenequah Jones" and "Beautiful Mistakes" take listeners on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from laughter to tears. His live shows take his music up a level by adding special guests and frequently having the audience sing along. Hungry people don't stay hungry for long and Ray is starving to make music that will put a smile on your face. Have a listen, spread the word, and it's a guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Jay Whitecotton - The son of a schizophrenic mother and alcoholic father, Jay Whitecotton has survived five years of homelessness, countless bad relationships, and two shootings. A total disregard for authority has gotten him fired from many jobs, while his lack of concern about money has made him comfortably broke. He would have gone to college had his savings not been stolen by his dad so he could “start a new family”.

While none of this has led to a successful medical practice or law firm, they have greatly enabled him for Stand Up Comedy. In just a few short years Jay has managed to feature some A and B clubs nationally, as well as headline some truly awful “venues” no letter in the alphabet could fully represent. Though he’s managed to work with some of his favorite comedians including Marc Maron, Maria Bamford, and Doug Stanhope, his proudest achievement is losing a local comedy competition for bringing his own judges, a 40 person Gospel Atheist Choir, and Jesus Christ to the stage.

Jay Whitecotton’s accomplishments include winning the ‘Texas State University Stand Up Competition’, finalist in the equally non-prestigious ‘Funniest in South Texas Competition’, appeared at 2013′s FUN FUN FUN Fest and Cape Fear Comedy Festival, and performed on the majority of the unofficial SXSW showcases put on by Stand Up Records. His columns have made featured status at altweeklies.com and can be found in the Backbeat, the Vent Nation, and Weird Magazine. Also he was voted ‘Best Comedian of 2012′ by the Current’s ‘Best of San Antonio’ Poll.

Tameca Jones - Coined the "Tina Turner of jazz" due to her long legs, fierce hair, and aggressive vocal stylings, Tameca Jones is a rare creature--an Austin, TX musician actually born and raised in the musical city. Since embarking on her mission to put her unique and soulful spin on covers in 2008, she has taken the local scene by storm with her potpourri of jazz, blues, rock, and soul. She opened for Gary Clark Jr., BB King, Smokey Robinson, David Sanborn and Joey Defrancesco, Oleta Adams, Take 6, Al Di Meola, Robert Cray, Ruben Studdard, and many other notable artists. In the summer of 2010, she won a prestigious contest that allowed her to open for Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, and Mint Condition.

At one of her shows, you can hear her refreshing takes on a wide range of artists from Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix to Talking Heads and Bob Marley. Her band are regulars at established Austin venues like The Elephant Room, Z Tejas, Central Market, One World Theatre, One2One Bar and the Continental Club Gallery. In San Antonio, she plays often at Carmen de la Calle.

Derrick Davis & Amber Bixby

Bios:

Derrick Davis - Derrick Davis Band has and continues to evolve has a musical entity. The supporting line-up has shifted over the years but under the leadership of Derrick Davis the band's sound and following are leading the the next wave of Austin musicians.

Soulful lyrics and blazing guitar are the glue that binds the eclectic mix of styles that make up the Derrick Davis Band sound. Combining rock based melodies, improvisational elements of Jazz, the dance-ablity of Funk, along with the passion and charisma of folk based signer songwriting - DDB's music has the rare quality of being able to cross genres and bring disparate fan-bases together.

Amber Bixby - Frustrated with life never working out, Amber Bixby turned to stand-up comedy. Her optimistic view of pessimism and sardonic charm has won over countless audiences and won her a reputation as “Comedy’s Sweetheart of Darkness.” Bixby has been a rising star in the Austin scene after gaining recognition as a Finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin Contest, and she has since performed at festivals all over America, including Boston’s Women in Comedy Fest, New Orleans’ Hell Yes Fest, and the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival. Bixby also writes, acts and directs short films and comedy sketches. One of her short films Opciono Dos was recently selected by the Texas Independent Film Festival.

AJ Vallejo, Brendan K O'Grady & Les Fisher

Bios:

AJ Vallejo - AJ Vallejo is an award winning producer, and musician from the band Vallejo as well the the owner of AJ's Live in Marble Falls, TX. He spends his time working on his many projects or relaxing with his family and two children.

Brendan K O'Grady - Brendan K. O'Grady is a comedian residing in Austin, TX, where he produces and co-hosts the popular weekly stand-up showcase "SURE THING." He has had his picture in the newspaper.

Les Fisher - The Funk Mob lay down an intense, groove-ridden funk and soul so old school it will take you back. Then, they’ll bring you back with the undeniable sounds of today’s hottest Top 40, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. This Texas based band contains a lineup of the most accomplished musicians playing in this genre anywhere. Known for its unparalleled stage performance and ability to connect and engage its crowd, The Funk Mob consistently pushes stylistic boundaries while embracing a treasured old school tradition. Anchored by a seamless rhythm lineup, and fronted with an ensemble of the most powerful, soulful, and smoothest vocals in the business, this team of funkmeisters unites for one multi-dimensional sound.

The Funk Mob’s musicianship has enabled them to perform with greats like Patti LaBelle, Larry Braggs with Tower of Power, and Az Yet, The Funk Mob is setting new standards for excellence with its ever-growing fan base. Their inspiring, energetic and funky groove keeps the dance floor packed and the party rolling.

Candiland, John Buseman & Jess & The Echoes

Bios:

Candiland - Candiland's music is a powerhouse mixture of upbeat, funky R&B soul, laced with the feverish kinetic energy of rock 'n roll. Born in a house full of music through her father, Charles Sanders', classic R&B act, Kool & Together, Candice Sanders is a love child of inspirational music that transcends genres and heals the woes of the hard modern life. From the first note of her magical voice at live performances, Candice raises the temperature in the room, as well as the energy level, and then the night belongs to her and everyone within earshot.

Her debut album, "Rumble In The Playground", produced by fellow Texan and collaborator, AJ Vallejo, is a lifetime-in-the-making tribute to her musical idols: Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and the great Aretha, to name a few, featuring a who's who list of Austin's finest talents such as Guy Forsyth, David Grissom (Dixie Chicks, John Mellencamp), Phil Redmond, Selton Cole, Haydn Vitera (Asleep At The Wheel) and many more.

With a highly-anticipated debut release in tow, a fiery live show and band, and a hunger and determination to turn any ear on her infectious 'rock & soul' sound, Candice Sanders is poised to make some serious noise and excite a vast demographic of music lovers, old and new, to elevate their senses in the sweet, sweet world of Candiland.

John Buseman - John Buseman does improv, sketch, and standup comedy in Austin Texas. He has performed in the Moontower Comedy Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, Hell Yes Festival, Del Close Marathons, LAFF festival, Philly Improv Festival, and Baltimore Improv Festival. John was a semi-finalist and Joke of the night winner in the 2013 Funniest Person in Austin Contest. The Austin Chronicle has called him “******* Funny” so it must be true.

Jess & The Echoes - Jess and the Echoes is a fresh dynamic to the world of modern pop music. Formed in Austin, Texas the band naturally absorbs the energy of a music scene that thrives on bold and unique artists. They are led by the powerful and stirring vocals of Jess Kellner. Her expansive vocal depth reaches deep into an audience with a captivating emotional connection. The stage presence of Jess is supported by the solid musical foundation known as The Echoes. Cole Gramling is the electrifying keyboardist and backup vocalist that Sparks the band's dominant impact. Casey Savage is the lead guitarist that gives a careful edge to addictive arrangements and Ryan Parker is the drummer who provides the pocket for this standout ensemble. This remarkable young band has a broad and enthusiastic take on music that will certainly connect with any audience. They are the epitome of what happens when performing becomes less about style and technique and more about the quality of the moment.

Danny Crooks & Brady Hughes

Bios:

Danny Crooks - Danny Crooks is an open-book enigma. He’s a mystery, yet wears his heart on his sleeve. The music impresario of 6th Street in Austin, TX has “developed” more musicians than the law should allow. And although his dream boat, Steamboat, no longer exists, his heart is still in the music that made it great. A difficult childhood hasn’t stopped the man that brought Music to 6th Street. Danny outran the demons from his childhood, proving that “if you WANT a good life badly enough, you can accomplish anything!” He has passed that mantra on to every one of the bands that came to Steamboat, looking for the opportunity to prove themselves. Every budding musician felt he or she was going to be the next Beatle. But only if Danny “felt” their music, did they get the chance to become famous. Danny Crooks lives in Buda, Texas with his wife, Leslie, and their musician son, Sean.

Brady Hughes - Brady Hughes is a seasoned guitar slinger most notably from the group Johnny Law. Brady now spends his stime playing in his groups Bird & The Early Worms and Fuzzy Mulz.

Gina Chavez & Michael Monsour

Bios:

Gina Chavez - When Gina Chavez chose Up.Rooted as the title of her new album, she found the one word that could reflect not only major turning points in her journey, but the experiences of people who live in her songs. Chavez uses this second album to express the dichotomies of her life as an ethnically mixed American woman trying to define, and embrace, who she is and where she belongs.

Released February 2014, Up.Rooted was first aired on National Public Radio’s First Listen series, noting that her “voice stops you in your tracks the first time you hear it.” The Austin Chronicle gave the album a rare four-star review and The Boston Globe hailed Up.Rooted “as confident as it is refreshing.”

Produced by Michael Ramos, known for his work with Patty Griffin, John Mellencamp and the BoDeans, Up.Rooted is a garden of delights on which Chavez delves into cumbia, bossa nova, vintage pop, reggaeton and other genres. Her wide-ranging vocals convey delicate beauty and sharp social commentary with equal nuance, giving the album a dynamic balance between dramatic tension and relaxed grace.

As one of Austin’s most beloved world music/indie artists, Chavez is known for her impressive multi-instrumental performances and an inimitable sound inspired by various Latin rhythms and styles. At this year’s SXSW, she took home three 2013-14 Austin Music Awards, including Best Female Vocals, Best Latin Traditional and Best Latin Rock, while placing in six other categories. This followed a 2012-13 Austin Music Award for Best Latin Traditional artist, two tours in Japan as the Official City of Austin Music Ambassador, and praise from NPR’s All Songs Considered and Alt. Latino as one of eight “New Latin Artists at SXSW,” Chavez has claimed a prominent stake in the Live Music Capital. She is back from eight months of mission work in El Salvador and established Niña Arriba a college scholarship fund for girls she lived with in a gang-dominated part of San Salvador. Southern Living and Olay named Chavez one of 11 “southern iconic women who have left a beautiful footprint across the South.”

Chavez showcased Up.Rooted at a sold-out hometown record release party and fundraiser on February 15, 2014, at The Stateside Theater in Austin, TX. The event raised more than $5,000 for the Niña Arriba college fund.

Chavez is currently touring in Texas and nationally, both solo and with her full band. Up.Rooted is available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify. Physical copies are available at Waterloo Records in Austin, TX and online at CD Baby.

Michael Monsour - Michael Monsour was like any normal kid in high school. Never a jock, never a nerd, but never stuck out. When he went to college, Michael finally started a new life goal: "No What If's'". Michael took this goal LITERALLY. If he saw a stranger and liked their sunglasses, he would go up and ask what kind they are. If he wanted to know why a girl was wearing booty shorts with giant letters spelling "TWERK" he would ask (and possibly have been slapped), but this is what lead Michael to stand up comedy. With just a little under 3 years of experience, Michael performed in front of over 700 people and was the MC for the headlining night of "MR Fest" two years in a row at Texas State University. He was the comedy showcase before the most up and coming bands went on the stage such as, "White Denim", and "Quiet Company". Michael was also on the "New Orleans Comedy and Arts Festival" 2012, and in that same year, took a east coast tour during the summer. He performed at "Improve Boston" and video complition was shared by the Boston Examiner online. That same tour, he was on the line up at "The Creek and the Cave" in New York City. In 2013, Michael performed in Seattle, WA at "Jhi Thai", San Francisco, CA "Comet Club", and various venues in LA. This past December, he sucessfully graduated college from Texas State University. He also earned a summer certificate at UCLA in creative producing during his last semester of college. Michael has been in numerous national commercials around the country and many independent films as an actor. He was just accepted to the New Orleans Comedy Festival again in 2014 and made it to the finals at Funniest Person In South Texas. He resides in Austin TX, performing almost nightly and travels around central Texas regularly. Just turning 24, Michael is excited and ready to work.

Mingo Fishtrap & Danny Palumbo

Bios:

Mingo Fishtrap - Texas Music Magazine calls Mingo Fishtrap “the space where melodic pop meets gritty Memphis soul, with a twist of N’awlins funk.” That space is growing like kudzoo vine on the Mississippi Delta, crisscrossing the country with a deep, tenacious groove and a sanctified mission to shake your soul.

While attending the University of North Texas’ College of Music, Roger Blevins, jr. casually asked a few dorm mates to jam on some old soul & funk tunes. Missing that sound that he had grown up hearing, the Mississippi-native quickly found himself surrounded by an eight-piece band, replete with percussion and horn section. That first unassuming encounter lit a fire, and once the college crowd got wind of this old-school sound coming from Bruce Hall, it spread to Dallas’ infamous Deep Ellum, Fort Worth’s legendary Caravan of Dreams and down the I-35 corridor to Austin.

Their first album in tow, the band relocated to the Live Music Capital of the World. Mingo quickly carved a niche in the heavily saturated scene, with the Austin Chronicle saying “Their gumbo of tight & punchy horns, deep rhythms, restless melodies, and emotive singing has garnered Mingo justified respect as a live powerhouse.” The album Yesterday also garnered a handful of Austin Music Awards, and they once again set their sights on fanning the flames.

Mingo hit the festival circuit, which carried their brand of whiskey-soaked, funky soul from Portland, OR to Portland, ME and hundreds of shows everywhere in between. Recent support dates for the likes of contemporaries Robert Randolph, Trombone Shorty, MOFRO & Galactic, along with legends such as Parliament, Sting, Little Feat and Earth Wind & Fire, have raised the profile of the band, sharpened their focus and in 2012 led to the band signing with Intrepid Artists Booking and an ever expanding tour calendar. Mingo performed in over 100 shows in 2013 that included features at the 10th Wakarusa, the Rochester International Jazz Festival and Ontario’s Thunder Bay festival.

Finding what time they can between shows, Mingo is putting the finishing touches on their fourth full-length album.

Danny Palumbo - Danny Palumbo lives in Austin, Texas. A transplant from Pittsburgh, he's performed at the Moontower Comedy Festival and can be seen regularly at Cap City Comedy Club.

Bruce Spelman & Ryan Cownie

Bios:

Extreme Heat - It is rare when a band performs together for a decade much less two decades.....But Austin's EXTREME HEAT has a performance life that spans five decades. Formed in 1977 from the critically acclaimed band Steam Heat, EXTREME HEAT cut it's musical teeth playing legendary Austin venues like the Armadillo, Liberty Lunch, Steamboat, Antones, and the Saxon Pub.

During the 1980's and 1990's EXTREME HEAT's eclectic, funky, jazz and rock influenced sound was heard throughout Texas as a constant presence in the clubs and music festivals of Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Amarillo, and Tyler. It was also during this period that the band released four albums and were the winners of readers polls and the subject of reviews and articles in music publications across the state.

In the 35 years they have been together, EXTREME HEAT has traveled and performed extensively throughout the U.S.A. They were especially well known to audiences in Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas where they came to represent the Texas and Austin music scene to a generation of listeners in those states.

With the release of a new CD in 2013: Soulstice, and 2 CD's in 2012, Live at the Saxon Pub and Put Some Weight on It ! , EXTREME HEAT continues to entertain audiences with their funky 'old school' sound 35 years after their inception.

Ryan Cownie - Ryan Cownie is a funny young punk. But it's not just how effortlessly he plays the star in his own mind, the perfect satire for a culture in which everyone is their own multi-platformed icon. It’s also his deadpan and disconnected ballsiness. At one performance, I watched him riff for minutes with an audience in audible discomfort and mild offense on how men who love UT football do so because they are cock gobbling bottom bitches. It wouldn’t have been funny had it been delivered in aggression; instead Cownie’s act is at the intersection of an autism spectrum disorder and Yelawolf.

Yes, he also does more traditional riffs on relationships that prey on the visual dissonance of sociopathic undertones coming out of the mouth of someone who looks like Harry Stiles' library science alter ego. But the real magic happens when he picks a random person in the audience and tries to initiate a friendship, desperately, with a maliciously sexual subtext that reads like the index of the DSM-V. Cownie’s playful, bright and experimental sense of fucking with you make him one of the most intriguing voices in the Austin comedy scene. That he’s also proficient in subtle micro expressions and ambushing punchlines makes the viewing of his debut short film, Cownie, all that much more required.

Bob Khosravi - Bob Khosravi was born a baby, which his mother appreciated. After years of experimentation he perfected blending his foreign last name with a really American first name.

An absurd storyteller hailing from Austin, Texas, Bob has been a featured performer in the Art Outside festival, alongside Moshe Kasher and Shane Mauss, as well as the MoonTower Comedy Festival in Austin, TX. Having hosted and featured at Cap City Comedy Club and headlined the infamous Velveeta Room, Bob has solidified his place in the local comedy community as well as on the road. Khosravi's comedy has been described as bright and engaging with a subtle sense of darkness.

Les & The Funk Mob - The Funk Mob lay down an intense, groove-ridden funk and soul so old school it will take you back. Then, they’ll bring you back with the undeniable sounds of today’s hottest Top 40, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. This Texas based band contains a lineup of the most accomplished musicians playing in this genre anywhere. Known for its unparalleled stage performance and ability to connect and engage its crowd, The Funk Mob consistently pushes stylistic boundaries while embracing a treasured old school tradition. Anchored by a seamless rhythm lineup, and fronted with an ensemble of the most powerful, soulful, and smoothest vocals in the business, this team of funkmeisters unites for one multi-dimensional sound.

The Funk Mob’s musicianship has enabled them to perform with greats like Patti LaBelle, Larry Braggs with Tower of Power, and Az Yet, The Funk Mob is setting new standards for excellence with its ever-growing fan base. Their inspiring, energetic and funky groove keeps the dance floor packed and the party rolling.

Chris Fadely, Lucas Molandes & Tom Meny

Bios:

Chris Fadely - Chris Fadely is one half of the Gruesome Twosome, the greatest rhythm section in the world and Berklee trained drummer. He enjoys Pantera, Dogs, Metal and long walks on the beach.

Lucas Molandes - Lucas Mondales: Widely hailed by critics and colleagues as a defining talent of the Austin comedy scene, Lucas Molandes has an impressive list of accomplishments that include appearances at the prestigious Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” and twice appearing on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast.

Most recent, Lucas has split his time between Austin and New York, where he was a writer for season 1 of MTV's Failosophy, and MTV 2's season 3 of The Guy Code.

To call Lucas’s inimitable brand of comedy “observational” would be a gross understatement – he operates on an X-ray level, seeking out the dark and dusty corners of the human condition and relishing every opportunity to pick awkward truths and embarrassing gems from the wriggling bones of personal failures, weaknesses, unrequited expectations and (of course) love.

Tom Meny - As the title of his debut album suggests, Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Tom Meny is definitely on his way. Meny was named the Southwest regional finalist for NPR’s 2012 Mountain Stage NewSong contest, making it to the Top 5 overall, and scoring over 2 million YouTube views. In December of 2013, Meny won the Recording Conservatory of Austin's Singer Songwriter competition.

Co-produced by Meny and Tim Casterline, On My Way’s ten songs are a vibrant mix of pop, rock and acoustic numbers that focus on everything from relationships to living life with no regrets. Though Meny takes his cues from the likes of John Mayer and Glen Hansard in terms of his songwriting and sound, it’s not hard to miss hints of Johnny Rzeznik’s vocals and the Barenaked Ladies on the upbeat “Make Some Noise,” or the liveliness of bands like Blues Traveler or Sister Hazel on “I’m All In.” “Job” is at once tragic and hilarious as Meny sedately sings “I hate my effen job,” and on the album’s biggest highlight, the stirring ballad “No Anger,” Meny repeats the soulful refrain of “No anger/No envy/No fear/No regrets” to great effect. This last track is one of many on the album which resonate with Meny on a deep level.

On My Way’s content is so interwoven into the fabric of Meny’s life that this refrain from “No Anger” even appears in the album’s penultimate song, “Road.” This lyrical choice helps bring a greater level of symmetry and depth to the album, highlighting Meny’s desire to live life in a way that is charismatic and filled with passion for what he does. By having no anger, no envy, no fear and no regrets, Meny hopes to ensure that his fans will seek out a similar direction for their own lives.

Brandon Wark, John Tole & Beg Plead Shake

Bios:

Brandon Wark - The 3 Guys Sports Show, comprised of Alex Franco and Brandon Wark, have been bringing their heart, passion and views on the world of sports to Talk 1370 for four years. They’re sports fans just like all of their listeners, and deliver strong opinions from the everyday fan’s perspective. The 3 Guys understand that Austin is an ever expanding city with many sports fans from all over the country, and those fans want more than just a regular dose of burnt orange. By bringing a unique blend of national and local sports topics, the 3 Guys cater to all sports fans. The 3 Guys Sports Show can be heard every Friday night 6-7pm on Talk Radio 1370, online at www.talk1370.com or on the TuneIn Radio mobile app.

John Tole - John Tole is a national touring stand up comic and regular with The Ronnie Mund Block Party Tour and has toured with The Killers of Comedy, The Sal and Richard Show and The Miserable Men Comedy Tour (The Howard Stern Show). John's over the top, high energy style has been nicknamed, "The Slayer of Comedy". He has worked with many nationally renown comedians including Greg Giraldo, Bill Burr, Jim Florentine, Jim Norton, Robert Kelly, Joe Rogan and Jim Jefferies. Fresh off of his CD Debut, "Fat Heaven", John appeared on the "Behind The Scenes with the Ronnie's Block Party Tour on Howard TV (InDemand) and has written and contributed to The Miserable Men radio Show on Sirius Satellite Howard 101. He can be heard on Howard 100, Howard 101, The Dudley and Bob Show and Sirius Raw Dog Channel 104 as well as his own weekly podcast, "John Tole's America". John was also a welcome addition to The Moontower Comedy Festival and was the face and host of the Blue MoonTower Adult Show.

Beg Plead Shake - Beg Plead Shake is a band of journeymen. Cosmic travelers who prize passion and soul above all, with physical origins ranging from West Texas, to Kentucky to Florida; all brought together in Austin, the heart of Texas. United under the ethereal love of Rock and Roll (with a little help from Craigslist).

Beg Plead Shake is currently in the studio working on their first record, tentatively titled “The Mothership Sessions” due mid 2014. They will be releasing the first single from the record in February, “Vicious Cycle", followed by second single "Ever Influence" with a video in tow in March.

2014 is poised to be a big year for Beg Plead Shake, so come out, exhume your reptilian brain, force open your mind’s eye, and shatter your infernal chakras with tales of whisky, women and the human condition.

Widgeon Holland, Mike MacRae & Chase Gassaway

Bios:

Widgeon Holland - At the age of 13, Widgeon started sitting in at clubs all over Austin and playing with some amazing guitarists like Van Wilks, Dave Sebree, Champ Hood, Derek O'Brien and Alan Haynes. He also had the of priviledge of getting to watch gunslingers the caliber of Eric Johnson, Chris Duarte, Ian Moore and David Grissom nearly every night. Then at 16 years of age, Widgeon was discovered by Chesley Millikin (known for his work with SRV, The Stones and The Grateful Dead). Since then he has played with many well known musicians like Ron Wood (of The Rolling Stones), Eric Burdon (of The Animals) and Long John Baldry (legendary blues singer and band leader who discovered Rod Stewart, Elton John and many other prominent figures of the London music scene). He has toured all over America, Canada, Europe and Australia playing his original music and opened for acts like Ben Harper, Bob Wier, Percy Sledge, Beth Orton and many others.

Mike MacRae - A native of St. Louis, Mike MacRae began performing at the legendary (read: “closed”) Houston Laff Stop in 1999 and soon developed his trademark style of blending obscure impressions into straight stand-up. Mike’s television debut was on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” in 2001 and he has since performed on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, NESN’s “Comedy All-Stars”, and was a cast member on the TBS sketch show “Frank TV”. In 2009, Mike was invited to perform on the Master’s Showcase at the Montreal “Just for Laughs” Comedy Festival. He has also lent his distinctive voice to numerous commercials, video games, cartoons, anime, and Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network.

Now a resident of Austin, TX, Mike tours the country performing in comedy clubs and can be heard regularly on syndicated radio programs such as “The Bob & Tom Show” and “The Jimmy Dore Show”, as well as various comedy podcasts, because that’s a thing that people apparently do now that will somehow pay off in the future. Mike’s comedy short “Taste in Powder” garnered rave reviews at the Austin Film Festival in 2010, and the YouTube comments were surprisingly benign. Mike is happy to announce that he has recently been invited to perform at both the upcoming SXSW and Moontower Comedy Festivals in Austin in 2012.

Chase Gassaway - At only 28 years old, singer-songwriter Chase Gassaway has more musical experience than most artists twice his age. And he’s putting it to good use with the release of his second solo album, Certain Circles, his first full-length record in nearly a decade.

A lifelong Texan, Gassaway studied music composition and theory in college, honing his skills as a composer by creating works for a wide range of ensembles from choirs to full orchestras, as well as composing the score to short film Take Two. He prefers to use his music as a means to explore the inner workings of the human spirit, call for social justice and hope, and encourage people to “ask questions they never thought to ask.” The result is an album that’s both insightful and inspirational.

Instead of pigeonholing his music into Americana, folk or alternative categories, Gassaway prefers to pursue diversity and eclecticism. “I’ve written full symphonic works, choral pieces, chamber music and folk songs, and they’re all the same for me,” he explains. “I like to think of my style as ‘honest.’”

Charlie Hodge, Katie Pengra & The Swift Drag

Bios:

Charlie Hodge - Born on the very day that Baby Jessica’s parents conceived the very baby that fell down that very well all those years later. Also…Charlie Hodge, formerly one-third of the morning radio trio on The Dudley and Bob Show, has launched his own four-hour midday program featuring his brand of idiosyncratic comedy (complete with impressions of notable local figures George W. Bush, the Whataburger dude, and the Lockhart sausage – yes, he impersonates a sausage) mixed with tried and true rock & roll standards. Hodge was previously anchoring an hourlong noon show by himself but this year has taken on a sidekick, veteran Austin comedian Matt Sadler, who reins Hodge in and keeps his comedy on track. Given the synergy created by this teaming, it’s no wonder our readers have pegged Hodge as the best radio chatter in Austin.

Katie Pengra - Katie Pengra is a part of the exploding Austin comedy scene where she has honed her adorably vulgar storytelling style. Originally from Arizona, Pengra has thrived in Austin where she is a fun comic, a crappy photographer, and a drunken videographer. She can be found hosting at Cap City, hosting her weekly Buzzkill Comedy show, and at comedy festivals including Fun Fun Fun Fest, Hell Yes Fest, Out of Bounds, the Ladies are Funny Fest, and the Moontower Comedy Festival.

The Swift Drag - The Swift Drag: a minimalist alternative rock duo with sultry vocals and banging drums. This ain't your normal 'plug in an electric guitar and strum some cords over some drums with no dynamics' type of duo. No, that would be boring. We like effects, octave pedals, dynamics, reverb, back beats, odd time signatures, weird chords, good songs and unexpected arrangements.

Gregg Ware, Joe Hafkey & Lisa Marshall

Bios:

Gregg Ware - One-2-One Bar was opened on March 11, 2004 out of a mutual passion for live music by the owners, Gregg and Destinee Ware. We had originally opened as a neighborhood bar in downtown Austin, featuring local musicians a few times a week and then slowly grew to adding more local talent and a rooftop bar. As downtown Austin changed, so did we, and we decided to move our little home on 5th St. to a new and larger space on South Lamar.

At One-2-One Bar our focus has always been creating a space that musicians and fans alike feel at home in. We have always been huge supporters of the many talented artists that Austin has to offer, encouraging the public to support the local musicians with yearly HAAM benefits (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians) and other events that promote public awareness of the need to support and keep the local talent right here in Austin, TX.

One-2-One Bar will continue to be the place, where on any given night, you can see some of Austin's finest musicians doing what they do best, and have a damn good time doing it!

Joe Hafkey - Joe Hafkey is a comic based out of Austin, TX, but if you're here you probably already knew that. Catch him co-hosting the comedy showcase 'Jazz Cigarette' at the Spider House Ballroom every 2nd & 4th Monday of the month, or peep his social media to see what shows he's got coming up. He feels pretty gross about writing this in the third person.

She hails most recently from Seattle. There she performed solo with, “The Blonde”, her semi-hollow body electric guitar, and was often joined by the raucous, funky three part call-and-answer trio, The Dirty Girls! She released her first solo CD titled ‘Simple’ in May of 2008. The group was invited to the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN. as the feature for The Sunday ‘Songwriter’s Spotlight’. ‘Simple‘ can be heard in regular rotation on KOOP, KAZI ;Austin, TX., WWOZ; New Orleans, LA. and various radio in Europe as well as making it on to 2 Top 5 Euro-Americana Charts.

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA, she spent her early years on the Chesapeake Bay. Her young parents possessed a large vinyl collection; Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Motown, Funk to Disco, music was a constant in the house.

At the age of 21, Marshall moved to California. It was in L.A. where she co-founded and fronted Peculiar Boogie with Rebekah Coltman (guitar) & Susan Joyner (keys)for a decade. Their band was a unique blend of female fronted “Brit” Rock featuring R&B style vocals and harmonies. The band played and showcased at some of L.A’s hot spots such as Troubadour, and the Roxy. Robben Ford, Koko Taylor, and Big Brother and the Holding Company are some of the acts that Peculiar Boogie supported. The band received air play in California and Europe regularly.

A full time musician, Lisa plays solo and with her band all over Texas while focusing on an online presence and overseas touring and festivals.

Tony Park, Mac Blake & John Lockhart

Bios:

Tony Park - Hailing from Austin, Texas, Three33 delivers anthemic driving rock that will have you dancing in the aisle with your fists in the air. The band’s debut album “The Ugly Side of True” was released in 2012 and has been listed on several local Austin DJ’s favorite releases of the year chart.

The roster of the band comes together from a diverse cross-section of the local and international music scene. Tony Park cut his teeth in the band Pushmonkey, Ben Mills has played in numerous local acts including She Craves & Waiting For August, Nathan Snyder put in legions of hours touring with the band Squint, Dan Walker has been an active member of the group Radio Fallout for several years and John Orr Franklin has spent the past several years releasing solo albums and developing an international online following for his band the John Orr Franklin Project.

asylm remixTogether the group brings together a unique blend of styles and influences that will soon be heard in their latest (and first with the current lineup) collaboration with the Rock Army Records released single “Bounce or Break”.

A plethora of unbound potential awaits this group. Keep an eye and an ear out for the band to start making some serious waves in 2014 around the Texas region and beyond.

Mac Blake - Mac Blake comes from the bearded streets of Austin, TX. He’s performed at the New Faces of Comedy Showcase at Just for Laughs Montreal, SXSW Comedy, the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, and the San Francisco Comedy and Burrito Festival (he was one of the burritos). He was also the winner of the 2013 Funniest Person in Austin contest.

John Lockhart - John Lockhart is a native Texan…born in Dallas and raised in Austin. He was raised in a musical family. Growing up, his mother, a classically trained pianist, performed as an accompanist, taught choir, and taught piano while his father played guitar and sang country music and jazz standards as a soloist and as a band leader. John gravitated toward the guitar and taught himself to play by listening to records. He played in various garage bands through high school. After graduating high school he attempted to put the guitar down to focus on his studies at the University of Texas where he majored in economics and graduated with a BBA in Liberal Arts. The attempt to put away the guitar was short-lived as he was introduced to other talented musicians and started his music career as a professional by playing fraternity parties on college campuses and night clubs on E. 6th St. in downtown Austin. John was exposed to a variety of styles but has made his mark in the country, rock, blues, and rhythm and blues genres.

In 1990, John moved to Hollywood to study music and guitar theory at Guitar Institute of Technology. John graduated with honors and was one of three to graduate with vocational honors. He was invited to join the staff and teach after his graduation. While in L.A., John performed with artists such as Cher, Patty Austin, Carl Verheyen, Norman Brown, Steve Trovato, Keith Wyatt, Scott Henderson, Steve Farris ( Mr. Mister), Tim Pierce (Rick Springfield), and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan). In 1992, John moved back to Austin riding high on motivation from the west coast. He then started the hugely successful band Sweet Daddy Redd (R&B/Reggae). From there he joined forces with world class vocalist Lisa Tingle in the popular rock band Black Pearl. Black Pearl was signed to independent label Flashpoint records and released a single, Like a Rocket that was #49 on KLBJ FM’s top 100 songs of 1995. In 1998, John joined forces with Charlie Redd, Les Fisher, Phil Redmond and Selton Cole and formed the band Taboo (R&B/ Funk) and packed venues such as Pearl’s Oyster Bar and Top of the Marc. From Taboo, John, Selton, and Les collaborated with singer Shawn Smith and started the modern rock band Chamber 36 and delivered two high energy records. Chamber 36 shared stages with the likes of Ludacris, The Arc Angels, Storyville, The Toadies, Seven Mary Three, Blue October, and Vallejo. Around 2003, John was hired into the Nashville Country Music scene with RCA recording artist, Tommy Shane Steiner, whose single “What If She’s An Angel” reached #2 on Billboard’s country chart in 2002. John toured with Steiner’s band on the CMT’s Most Wanted Tour which featured Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Andy Griggs, Chris Cagle, and Darrell Worley. After the touring played out, John toured Texas with the country band, Texas Unlimited, co-wrote a record, and did shows with Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Eli Young Band, Roger Creager, and Corey Morrow. The Texas Unlimited Band was also invited to play in the Houston Astrodome twice in conjunction with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 2007, John founded the rock cover band, Suede. Suede has been honored as one of the top cover bands in the state of Texas. Suede’s ongoing success has crossed state and international boundaries as they have performed at world-class venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Nokia Theater (L.A. Live), The Fox Theater in Atlanta, The Dodge Theater in Phoenix, and multiple popular venues throughout Canada.

Recently, John has partnered with the Austin Music Foundation to launch his country music singing career. He has been actively writing and producing new material and and his new EP, titled “Guilty Pleasure” was released February 10, 2014. As John continues to gain notoriety as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, he aims to continuously grow his career with upcoming meetings and showcases in Nashville and in Austin. Check out John’s new tunes on iTunes, YouTube, Reverbnation, and Sound Cloud.

Cody Jasper, Brian Gaar & Cody Bryan Band

Bios:

Cody Jasper - Amarillo-born Cody Jasper may wear boots covered with Texas soil, but his rock ’n’ roll passions stretch way beyond its boundaries, influenced by characters named Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Waylon Jennings. In fact, Jasper’s love for Waylon led him directly to Waylon’s son, who showed him how to graft outlaw country together with rock and turn it into audio dynamite. “If it wasn’t for Shooter’s music,” Jasper says, “I would still be trying to decide if I was country or rock ’n’ roll.” Fortunately, he doesn’t have to. On Cody Jasper (Feb. 18, 2014), his debut album, the 24-year-old singer and guitarist delivers a hot mix of southern-infused rock, blues and soul, peppered with outlaw country, fanned by guitar-god flames and impassioned by the gospel heart of Stax’s finest. He keeps a little Texas tradition with him, however, in the form of a 1959 Epiphone Zephyr tube amp that belonged to his great-grandfather, who played guitar with Bob Wills.

Jasper, 24, who moved to Colorado while still in his teens to join rock band The Wildbills, toured the states as their vocalist and lead guitarist before moving to Austin. The album track “Someday” dates back to that period; all but two of the album’s cuts are his own. “Black Cadillac” and “The Deal is Done” were written with Nick Jay, who produced the album and contributed bass, keyboards and backing vocals. Working at Nest Recording in Dripping Springs, outside of Austin, Jasper bottled lightning on songs such as the slide-driven “Cherry Pie,” the aching ballad “Mona Lisa” and the sweaty crunch-rocker “Evil Woman.”

Brian Gaar - Brian Gaar is a handsome journalist by day and a handsome comedian by night.

He performs standup all over the country, including South By Southwest Comedy, the Moontower Comedy Festival, Out of Bounds and the NC Comedy Arts Festival.

Brian’s jokes have appeared in Esquire magazine, CBS News, Happy Place and theCHIVE. He’s a contributor to WitStream and was named one of the Best Twitter Accounts of 2013 by Paste Magazine.

Cody Bryan Band - Texas native Cody Bryan has one of those rich, resonant voices that’s perfectly suited for country, whether he’s rocking a honky-tonk on Saturday night or soothing regret-filled hearts on Sunday morning. WRECK ME (May 14, 2013), the Cody Bryan Band’s debut album, showcases Bryan’s considerable vocal and songwriting skills on 10 strong tracks, most co-written during one marathon weekend in Nashville. Standouts include the first single, “If I’m Going Nowhere,” the love song, “When We Were Made,” and the title track “Wreck Me”. Helmed by producer and Blue October bassist Matt Noveskey, WRECK ME transcends geographic or stylistic boundaries while heralding the arrival of an important new talent. Cody is accompanied by Zach Lynch on lead guitar, Miles Barker on bass, Casey Conway on drums and Cole Gramling on keys to create the Cody Bryan Band! Look for these guys to make an impact on the Texas Country music scene in 2014!

Ulrich Ellison, JR Brow & James Speer

Bios:

Ulrich Ellison - Ulrich Ellison was born and raised in Graz, Austria, though his ancestral roots go back to Ireland. After paying his dues in the rich Viennese music scene, a prestigious jazz scholarship enables him to settle in one of America’s musical hot spots – Austin TX. While working at his MM at UT’s jazz department he wins three of the acclaimed Downbeat student awards. The diversity of the local scene ranging from blues, salsa, rock, indie to singer/songwriter turns out to be the perfect playground for developing a unique personal style. Dubbed as “Viking Blues”, Ellison’s music mainly draws from blues, rock, irish and celtic elements. His jazz-fusion background always shines through as well.

So far he has released three albums under his own name. His band “The Tribe” features acclaimed violinist Michelle Alany who played with the Transsiberian Orchestra; award-winning drummer Mike Davila who won the worldwide Mapex “Drummer Of Tomorrow” competion in 2012; and bass woman Sabine Ellison, known for her work with Bloo Voodoo and Austin blues star Birdlegg. The Tribe also works and collaborates with different guest musicians on a regular basis, including John Nelson (Thievery Corporation, Poi Dog Pondering) and keyboardist Winton Reynolds.

Of course that’s not all. There is always a new goal ahead, a new challenge, a new sound. “Music always comes first. It’s a blessing if a piece of music is well-received or a concert turns out to be a big success, but in the end, the ultimate happiness comes from within. The artist has to follow his inner voice and pace” says Ellison, who has played music in almost any style and setting. In a ruthless and fast-paced music biz, Ellison has found the value of building long-lasting relationships with fans. “If people keep supporting me via patronism.com, they not only empower me to create more music for them. We literally become one tribe, and they become part of the music. This connection enables me to share my craft on a very personal level.”

Three European club tours have helped him to reach new ears. Last year, he opened for rockers Uriah Heep and Nazareth. When he is at his home base Austin, TX, Ellison enjoys playing regional blues gigs, jam sessions and doing sideman work for other artists like grammy-nominated singer Abra Moore or “The Voice” – finalist Nakia.

JR Brow - J.R. Brow went to college, became a standup comic, and eventually toured 49 states and 4 continents with his guitar in hand. His original standup comedy instantly won over young and old fans alike. Almost immediately, J.R. marched to the finals of the San Francisco Comedy Competition. He has opened for performers like Dana Carvey, Ray Romano, Bill Hicks, and Steven Wright. He's recently been featured on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" and CBS’s "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" as well as many other television spots along the way.

Like the rarest of breeds, J.R. electrifies audiences with his high energy storytelling and spot-on mimicry. When his guitar comes into the act, the originality peaks with his unique musical prowess. Brow's comedy can be heard on his current CD, "Dumber By The Decade" and read in his upcoming memoir, "The Ancient Greeks Had Nothing On Me."

J.R. lives in Austin, travels forty-plus weeks a year, and is constantly writing new bits. In his free time, he collects Japanese guitars and rare vinyl records.

His voice combines the soul and character of R&B legends like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder with the charisma and swing of modern troubadours like Michael Bublé and John Legend to seamlessly perform a wide range of classic jazz standards, soul-infused rhythm and blues, and jazz-inspired reinventions of modern pop. Accompanied by his talented backing band, the multi-instrumentalist expertly and simultaneously rolls out his numbers on a grand piano, bass keyboard, and organ keyboard, a visual and audial thrill for audiences and critics alike.

A musician known and respected by his peers, James has performed and recorded with some of Austin’s best-known acts, including Bob Schneider, Monte Montgomery, Vallejo, George Devore, The Scabs, MC Overlord, Malford Milligan, Ady Hernandez and Tyrone Vaughn.

Dave Glessner, Matt Sadler & Nic Armstrong

Bios:

Dave Glessner - In two decades as a music journalist, “Metal Dave” Glessner has interviewed some of the biggest names in rock, including Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, KISS, Motley Crue, the Ramones and countless others. A native of San Antonio (“Satantonio”) Texas and a longtime resident of Austin, Glessner has been a regular contributor to such magazines as Metal Edge, Classic Rock and Texas Music as well as the San Antonio Express-News, the Austin American-Statesman, the Houston Press, KNAC.com and others. Today, Glessner is founder of the rock-blog site, 2Fast2Die.com, where he shares his archived interviews, photos and random thoughts on all things hard rock, glam-metal, punk and thrash.

Matt Sadler - You often hear music buffs marveling at the enormous number of bands and musical artists spawned by the Austin local scene--it is impressive, and if this were a music club, we'd probably address this phenomenon in gushing terms and excruciating detail. But this is a comedy club, so I hope it's okay if we instead speak of a similar, if less splashy scenario: The Austin comedy scene has likewise produced some uniquely gifted and highly successful funny folks--Johnny Hardwick (voice of "King Of The Hill's" Dale and former writer-producer on that show) and Howard Kremer and Brad "Chip" Pope (stars of "Austin Stories," co-writers of various HBO & other network pilots and shows) come quickly to mind.

Matt Sadler is clearly another comedian who will extend the Austin tradition of local boys (& girls) making very good. Matt has lived in Austin for more than a dozen years (given the steady influx of artistic types who move here, this practically makes him a native), and took his first steps into professional joke-telling right here in Austin. After a number of years of very hard work--honing the performance, steadily writing new material, hitting the road to further develop his craft--he's now a seasoned pro, with a slew of credits and accomplishments to do Austin proud. Examples? What is it with you pushy people? OK, keep your shirt on, I'll give you examples--don't I always?

Heck, as far back as the late '90s--OK, very late: 1999--he was distinguishing himself locally and demonstrating he could play in the big leagues, when HBO conducted a talent search that drew more than 100 comedians, Matt was selected the best of the bunch, and flown out to Hollywood to hold forth there at the Improv. More recently, in 2005 to be exact, that experience was echoed somewhat during the Carnival Comedy Challenge--about 75 comics were vying in that contest, and if you've already figured out Matt took first place here, too, you're starting to get the hang of this--and damn near as sharp as Matt is, if you don't mind me saying so. (Even if you do.) So it probably goes without saying there are plenty of other triumphs in Matt's career dossier. For instance, beyond the more obvious and expected crisscrossing of these United States to develop his skill and experience, he's also toured overseas, performing for the military in the Middle East and Asia, his TV credits include the aforementioned "Austin Stories," he's a very funny man and did I mention that he's an Austinite?

Nic Armstrong - Few would argue that emigrating - on a whim - to the United States has proven not to be a genius stroke of career kamikaze. However, if you lose something you invariably gain something or so the story goes.*

Born and raised in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Nic Armstrong has been based in Austin, TX, for the past five years. Utilising and drawing from a wide field of current and off-kilter resources and influences, he composes scratchy, hook-laden, left field, rock and roll with a dip of tobacco psychology. Temporarily confined to playing select showcases and residencies, Nic is finalising the arrangements of 40+ compositions - five years of work.

At the tail end of his second tour with the amazing Paul Weller (The Greatest White Liar was his album of the year) - three sold out nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo - Nic flew out to the United States to promote The Greatest White Liar. A hard working ethos and high energy live shows led to his US network TV debut (Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson), US and UK dates with Oasis (reluctantly had to turn down a full UK tour...boo!) and festival appearances (Coachella, ACL, La Gloria, SXSW, Festival des Effervessone, CMJ). Down Home Girl was picked up and featured in Superbowl 40. Full UK, European and North American tours - including two US tours with The Pretenders and lucky enough to play just before Iggy Pop in France too.

An anomaly of a non-driver in America, Armstrong landed in pre-gold rush Austin, TX, with one carrier bag of clothes, a critically acclaimed record and a burgeoning live reputation. On his very first night in the USA, a wizened Austin soothsayer-cum-cartoon-bad-guy howled at Nic, "Once you are here you will never leave!". Surprised by the weather and the warmth of the locals, it appears that Armstrong has followed the curve of this prophecy.

Do not be fooled by this for one second.

In his workshop, Armstrong has been forging onwards: consistently writing, composing, arranging and documenting all parts to a very diverse and exciting body of work. All energies focused on the road and horizon ahead. The vanishing point.

Brannen Temple, Tony Lamarr & Curtis Lee

Bios:

Brannen Temple - From the early age of 10, Brannen started playing drums in the school Jazz bands, winning various awards along the way, before turning pro. He has worked with many artists, including Sheena Easton, Kevin Paige, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Chaka Khan, and Janet Jackson.

Tony LaMarr - Comic Anthony LaMarr brings his unique and twisted hawaiian blend of Comedy to life. Anthony LaMarr Performs in California and Texas. Austin's Cap City Comedy Club is Anthony LaMarr works his Stand up monthly. When in Los Angeles, you can find Anthony LaMarr at The Comedy Store, Flappers and Marty's. You can find some of Anthony LaMarr's Stand up on Youtube.com and watercastlestudio.com.

Curtis Lee - Born Miguel Curtis McDonald ,Curtis Lee ,middle named after his late uncle Curtis Lee McDonald was born in Peoria,Illinois where he grew up listening and singing to his mother and fathers 8track tapes and 45 records ranging from great artists such as Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Marvin Gaye and The Jackson 5. His mother could also attribute to his love of music because she grew up singing in choirs and he would sometimes hear her powerful soprano voice echo thru the house and enjoyed listening. Curtis enjoyed music and singing a lot but only as a hobby. It wasn't until he realized thru hearing from his family and voice teachers from grade school that he could actually have a successful career singing. So he dropped his dream of becoming a pro football player and began to listen to and study different types of music and artist as well as studying classical and jazz voice at Texas State University to hone in his craft. Currently Curtis Lee lives in the live music capital of the world Austin, Texas. Where he has started his professional live singing career in the music scene of Austin four years ago gigging nightly on 6th, 5th and 4th street at some of the most popular clubs and venues downtown with a 60 ‘s and 70’s Funk and Soul Cover band called The Bumps. He has also performed with such bands as The Atlantic's ,London Calling ,The 80h Project,M.A.S.K and In The Pink and is currently singing with a Soul Pop band called Dahebegebees and is working on his 1st studio EP Album release. Curtis Lee would like to take his singing career to the next level and become established as an original soul artist in the music business and create a nice sound for all ears to hear. So look out for him in the near future.

Emmy Robbin, Bryan Gutmann & Erik Larson and Peacemaker

Bios:

Emmy Robbin - Emmy Robbin was born on May 18, 1982 in Silverspring, Maryland, USA as Emeline Ann Robbin. She is known for her work on Machete Kills (2013), Sin City (2005) and Grindhouse (2007).

Bryan Gutmann - Bryan is a stand-up comedian based out of Austin, TX. Since first performing in 2005, Bryan has gone on to work with some of the greats including Marc Maron, Hannibal Burress, and Norm MacDonald. Constantly writing and performing, Bryan has a laid back but very creative style of thoughtful, observational comedy. In 2007, Bryan was a featured performer on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”. He’s also performed at the first annual Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival in 2012, and has also appeared at the New Faces showcase during the 2011 installment of the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Erik Larson & Peacemaker - Catchy radio friendly songs, identifiable lyrics, and a dynamic stage show are the reasons why fans can't get enough of Austin Alt Country rockers Erik Larson and Peacmaker - a true Texas triple threat that keeps music fans coming back for more. Channeling the likes of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings, ELP creates a true connection to the soul of the common man. Singing from the heart and playing from the gut is what these boys do best. Their much-anticipated self-titled debut album is a true Americana masterpiece. With songs that run the gamut from heartbreakers to rockers, from spellbinders to classics, Erik Larson and Peacemaker puts their own gritty, raw stamp on the Red Dirt/Americana music. Call it Dirty Americana or Americana Dirt - ELP puts a new brand on a classic Texas sound.

Charlie Hodge, Duncan Carson & Candiland

Bios:

Charlie Hodge - Born on the very day that Baby Jessica’s parents conceived the very baby that fell down that very well all those years later. Also…Charlie Hodge, formerly one-third of the morning radio trio on The Dudley and Bob Show, has launched his own four-hour midday program featuring his brand of idiosyncratic comedy (complete with impressions of notable local figures George W. Bush, the Whataburger dude, and the Lockhart sausage – yes, he impersonates a sausage) mixed with tried and true rock & roll standards. Hodge was previously anchoring an hourlong noon show by himself but this year has taken on a sidekick, veteran Austin comedian Matt Sadler, who reins Hodge in and keeps his comedy on track. Given the synergy created by this teaming, it’s no wonder our readers have pegged Hodge as the best radio chatter in Austin.

Duncan Carson - I am a guy that tells jokes. I live in Austin, Texas. I have performed at the Moontower Comedy Festival, the Limestone Comedy Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, a few other fests, and been a Finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin Contest.

Every Saturday at 8 I co-host a FREE show called SURE THING, at the original Austin Java on 12th and Lamar. Every Wednesday at 8 I host an open mic at the same place (signup at 7:30).

I interview other Austin comics for my podcast Sincere Tweets, which you can subscribe to on iTunes here. You can email me at adcarson at gmail dot com if you'd like, or bother me on twitter. Enjoy your day.

Candiland - Candiland's music is a powerhouse mixture of upbeat, funky R&B soul, laced with the feverish kinetic energy of rock 'n roll. Born in a house full of music through her father, Charles Sanders', classic R&B act, Kool & Together, Candice Sanders is a love child of inspirational music that transcends genres and heals the woes of the hard modern life. From the first note of her magical voice at live performances, Candice raises the temperature in the room, as well as the energy level, and then the night belongs to her and everyone within earshot.

Her debut album, "Rumble In The Playground", produced by fellow Texan and collaborator, AJ Vallejo, is a lifetime-in-the-making tribute to her musical idols: Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and the great Aretha, to name a few, featuring a who's who list of Austin's finest talents such as Guy Forsyth, David Grissom (Dixie Chicks, John Mellencamp), Phil Redmond, Selton Cole, Haydn Vitera (Asleep At The Wheel) and many more.

With a highly-anticipated debut release in tow, a fiery live show and band, and a hunger and determination to turn any ear on her infectious 'rock & soul' sound, Candice Sanders is poised to make some serious noise and excite a vast demographic of music lovers, old and new, to elevate their senses in the sweet, sweet world of Candiland.

Candice Sanders’ CANDILAND is the epitome of pure Rock ‘N Soul from the heart of Austin, Texas. Featuring some of the best players in town, the CANDILAND live show is sure to have the whole house on their feet

Johnny Goudie, John Tole & Tennessee Stiffs

Bios:

Johnny Goudie - the songwriter behind Johnny Goudie and the Little Champions - is a sponge. Part collaborator, part actor, and part producer, Goudie has traveled the artistic gauntlet, absorbing the intricacies he’s seen both as a major label buzz band and a seasoned veteran of the industry.

Still, with a sincerity-laden ache suspended over an eclectic breadth of nuanced pop rock, Goudie is, at his heart, an artist. He crafts emotive, evocative tales of love, loss, and the tragedies in between, and his latest offering, El Payaso (Spanish for “The Clown”), taps even deeper into his personal nadir with a courageous sense of artistic adventure.

Throughout his career, Goudie has been able to interweave his own experiences with his heartfelt, indie-tinged sound. Admittedly, as a kid growing up with artistically-minded parents, Goudie followed the musical path for one reason: “I just really connected with music because you could really get chicks that way, honest to God,” he laughs. But his talents eventually enveloped the days of puberty and awkward dances, and young Johnny had found his calling. His previous band, Goudie, dazzled with glam rock fervor, capturing the attention of, amongst others, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich. The ensuing major label deal led to the 2000 release of the critically-acclaimed Peep Show, an album that allowed the band the opportunity to tour with the likes of Blur, Veruca Salt, and Supergrass.

As his former band came to an end, the frontman turned inwards for his subsequent solo offerings. The intimacy of that period is even further expressed on El Payaso. “I’m a very personal songwriter, but this time I really went into my box of issues,” he claims. That Pandora’s Box included, “Dealing with a parent in prison and sort of dealing with - not a bad upbringing - but definitely an unusual upbringing all over the country and Mexico. I drew from all those experiences on the record.”

"A life like an opera / without the ovation / with all of the drama and trouble", sings Goudie, and the words resonate with the fabric of his life. Drama and trouble entwine their way into Goudie’s sense of cunning lyricism, providing a reflective glimpse into what makes Goudie’s effervescent music shine. But El Payaso is more than just the story of Johnny Goudie: it shimmers with a breadth of emotions, from the poignant sincerity of “Every Night Before I Fall Asleep” to the absurdity of “You Can’t Pretend Forever”.

El Payaso also gives a glimpse of an artist that finds himself in a new place in life. It’s a fresh beginning for Goudie, both as a musician and as a person. “I feel like I’ve got more clarity; a handle on who I am. I feel like I’ve put a lot of my demons to rest,” he suggests. Those demons were ever-present on his solo efforts, including 2005’s Boy In A Box, an album drenched in the heartbreak of his recent divorce. This time around, Goudie is delving into an even more personal spectrum, and the result is soaked in the themes of loss and redemption. “I think it’s bridging my old life and new life together,” he explains.

Sonically, El Payaso is the bravest and most expansive work of Goudie’s career. It embraces new textures, from dramatic string sections to the perfectly placed squeals of horns. Gone are the days of recording everything in the isolated confines of his bedroom, instead opening his arms to a full backing band and stunning production from Jonas Wilson (The Lovely Sparrows, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral Five, Strange Boys) Lars Göransson (What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Cardigans, Alpha Rev) and Goudie himself. “I love playing with my band; I love the freedom that I have. [I’ve been able] to run wild with this album and do whatever the fuck I want,” he laughs.

Johnny Goudie’s freedom has created an album that is the zenith of his experience. From his days as Elektra Records darling to his time as a guitarist/keyboardist for Ian Moore and Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s, everything culminates into the vast musical portrait of El Payaso. It sweeps with dynamic shifts and resonates with bittersweet pop beauty. “And all of the monsters/That come from inside/Will find themselves lost/With nowhere to hide,” he croons on the album’s closer, “Listen To Me”. It’s the sound of an artist that is embracing the challenges of the past while pushing for a new future, and, ultimately, a new sense of self.

“Writing songs has saved my life,” details Goudie, and it’s evident on each of the vibrant tracks of El Payaso. “It’s what I do to feel better. I don’t just do them for chicks anymore.”

John Tole - John Tole is a national touring stand up comic and regular with The Ronnie Mund Block Party Tour and has toured with The Killers of Comedy, The Sal and Richard Show and The Miserable Men Comedy Tour (The Howard Stern Show). John's over the top, high energy style has been nicknamed, "The Slayer of Comedy". He has worked with many nationally renown comedians including Greg Giraldo, Bill Burr, Jim Florentine, Jim Norton, Robert Kelly, Joe Rogan and Jim Jefferies. Fresh off of his CD Debut, "Fat Heaven", John appeared on the "Behind The Scenes with the Ronnie's Block Party Tour on Howard TV (InDemand) and has written and contributed to The Miserable Men radio Show on Sirius Satellite Howard 101. He can be heard on Howard 100, Howard 101, The Dudley and Bob Show and Sirius Raw Dog Channel 104 as well as his own weekly podcast, "John Tole's America". John was also a welcome addition to The Moontower Comedy Festival and was the face and host of the Blue MoonTower Adult Show.

Tennessee Stiffs - Tennessee Stiffs formed in late 2011. Fueled by their eclectic musical interests, they were determined to create something never heard before. Seamlessly blending blues, rock 'n' roll, and alternative country into a powerful and provocative product, they're quickly making a name for themselves in The Live Music Capitol of the World.

Joy Davis, Kerri Lendo & The Rankin Twins

Bios:

Joy Davis - Blazing a trail through the Country music world, Texas born sweetheart Joy Davis has been setting her mark and reaching beyond her dreams. Raised by a family of musicians, Joy had the genetic urge to pursue her passion for music from the start. Joy grew up on stages all over the country watching her father, Texas Music Hall of Fame guitarist, "Slidin' Stevie Davis" perform with Bugs Henderson and Stevie Ray Vaughn. With influences from Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin to Ray Charles and Patsy Cline, Joy and her older sister committed to making a name for themselves. After years of singing back-up vocals, and learning all she could about the music industry, Joy finally came into her own.

Kerri Lendo - Kerri Lendo got her start playing open mics and writing for the humor magazine Phroth at Penn State. Since moving to Austin, Kerri has performed on stages all around town and opened for traveling stand-ups. She has been a finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin contest and has also won the Funniest Filmmaker in Austin competition.

Kerri hopes to one day move to Hollywood and become a big movie star playing such roles as best friend of attractive female lead or sister of attractive female lead.

The Rankin Twins - There is a Chinese saying: “Good things come in pairs”. In the music world that would most certainly include The Judds, The Wreckers...and now, The Rankin Twins have become one of the most talked about new duos in contemporary country music thanks to their recent full length debut album, Moonshine and Maybes. The identical twins have gained an extensive following in the South by showcasing their impeccably tight harmonies as well as their youthful and energetic stage performances and relatable lyrics.

Amy and April Rankin, or “Number 1” and “Number 2” as they sometimes jokingly call themselves, grew up in a small rural town on the southern coast of Texas with friends and family as their practice audiences. They discovered their love of creating music together, so after college graduation and a brief stint with desk jobs, the sisters realized they couldn't escape the reality of their fate and quickly began their musical journey. However, the ladies’ resolve was tested almost immediately when Amy had to undergo unexpected brain surgery to remove a tumor. The optimism and faith that came from this experience has buried itself firmly into the foundation of their music. Amy explains, “I think the obstacles we've overcome help us to be able to channel our experiences, love, doubts and fears into our music. We make an attitude choice daily to make sure we stay positive.

The buoyant siblings are now on a rapid trajectory to stardom. They’ve released multiple successful singles to Texas radio, including the hits “Rain”, “Holdin’ Pattern”, and “Jezebel”, and two prior EP releases, “Headaches and Heartbreaks” and “Silver Lining”. They’ve maintained a busy touring schedule, gaining the respect of fellow artists and earning them opening slots for headliners like Pat Green and Josh Abbott Band. And with infectiously fresh music, matched with their playful personalities, it’s no surprise The Rankin Twins became one of the Top 3 finalists on NBC Universal/Cozi TV’s new reality series, Next Great Family Band.

The world is just beginning to understand the magnetism of The Rankin Twins. With a video on CMT.com, and features in respected music publications like Texas Music Magazine and Lone Star Music Magazine, the ladies have proven to be a tremendous musical force. Like other duos that came before them - Abbott and Costello, Sonny and Cher, and Logins and Messina - this vibrant pair has carved out a place of their own in the music world, and will continue to prove that good things do indeed come in pairs.

Bart Crow, Brendan K O'Grady & Bobby Bookout

Bios:

Bart Crow grew up in Maypearl, TX. He served in the US Army after graduating high school and started writing music during his downtime. With Matt Slagle of Austin on bass, David Fralin of Lubbock on keyboard, Drew Campbell of San Marcos on drums, and Paul Russell of Waxahachie on lead guitar, Crow created the first version of the Bart Crow Band in 2005 and released their first album Finally. The album sold thousands of copies locally and was nominated for the My Texas Music Awards Album of the Year award.

The second album, Desperate Hearts, came out in 2008. Two of the songs from the CD, "Back Down" and "Understand", topped the Texas Music Charts. A third album, Heartworn Tragedy, would be released the following year and would have two more #1 hit songs: "Saying Goodbye" and "Run with the Devil". By this point, the Bart Crow Band was constantly touring at over 200 shows a year.

The latest Bart Crow Band album, Brewster Street Live, was released in the spring of 2011. A new album titled Dandelion was released in the fall of 2012.

Brendan K O'Grady - LBrendan K. O'Grady is a comedian residing in Austin, TX, where he produces and co-hosts the popular weekly stand-up showcase "SURE THING." He has had his picture in the newspaper.

Bobby Bookout - Bobby Bookout is a singer/songwriter based out of Austin Texas. He grew up in the country outside of a small town in South Texas called Carrizo Springs. After a long stint in the U.S. Navy he used his GI Bill to obtain a degree in Commercial Music from South Plains College in Levelland Texas. In 2007, he graduated from SPC and moved to Austin to begin work on his full length self titled debut which was released in June of 2010. Bobby's music is crafted outside 'the box'. As both singer and songwriter; he crosses a broad spectrum of genres, weaving them together with his own unique thread of continuity and a versatility that can appeal to any demographic.

Ryan Harkrider, Lucas Molandes & Derrick Davis

Bios:
Ryan Harkrider - Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Ryan Harkrider has headed up projects in music and film for over a decade, working as a performer, composer, songwriter and recording artist. His projects span all styles and genres with gigs writing music for film soundtracks, musicals, choirs and rock and roll bands.

Lucas Molandes - Lucas Mondales: Widely hailed by critics and colleagues as a defining talent of the Austin comedy scene, Lucas Molandes has an impressive list of accomplishments that include appearances at the prestigious Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” and twice appearing on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast.

Most recent, Lucas has split his time between Austin and New York, where he was a writer for season 1 of MTV's Failosophy, and MTV 2's season 3 of The Guy Code.

To call Lucas’s inimitable brand of comedy “observational” would be a gross understatement – he operates on an X-ray level, seeking out the dark and dusty corners of the human condition and relishing every opportunity to pick awkward truths and embarrassing gems from the wriggling bones of personal failures, weaknesses, unrequited expectations and (of course) love.

Derrick Davis - Derrick Davis Band has and continues to evolve has a musical entity. The supporting line-up has shifted over the years but under the leadership of Derrick Davis the band's sound and following are leading the the next wave of Austin musicians.

Soulful lyrics and blazing guitar are the glue that binds the eclectic mix of styles that make up the Derrick Davis Band sound. Combining rock based melodies, improvisational elements of Jazz, the dance-ablity of Funk, along with the passion and charisma of folk based signer songwriting - DDB's music has the rare quality of being able to cross genres and bring disparate fan-bases together.

Kevin Flatt, John Tole & Dave Scher

Bios:
Kevin Flatt - Kevin Flatt was born and raised in Arlington, TX where he began a life of music at an early age. By the age of 9, influenced by his father playing piano & brother just starting to play cello, Kevin was very interested in music and became very enthusiastic in music class. By the age of 12, Kevin began to learn the trumpet. This was really love at first sight as Kevin took off to be first chair in band and orchestra for most of his Middle & High School career. This success was due to an amazing teacher by the name of Ken Callaway. Kevin took this knowledge and love for music to The University of Texas in Austin to earn a Bachelors Degree in Trumpet Performance. Now, With just over 14 years of experience and knowledge from teachers such as Ray Sasaki, Jeff Helmer, John Mills, Ron Westray, & Dennis Dotson, Kevin has become a very well know trumpet player in the Austin, TX area.

Now living in Austin, TX, Kevin Flatt is a well-known and established freelance musician on call for both trumpet and guitar on a regular basis. The two main bands you can see him with regularly is The Matt Wilson Band and Dahebegebees. Kevin is currently working on a solo album in which he will include both the trumpet and the guitar in many different styles. The album will have a few well-known guests and hopefully will be done soon.

John Tole - John Tole is a national touring stand up comic and regular with The Ronnie Mund Block Party Tour and has toured with The Killers of Comedy, The Sal and Richard Show and The Miserable Men Comedy Tour (The Howard Stern Show). John's over the top, high energy style has been nicknamed, "The Slayer of Comedy". He has worked with many nationally renown comedians including Greg Giraldo, Bill Burr, Jim Florentine, Jim Norton, Robert Kelly, Joe Rogan and Jim Jefferies. Fresh off of his CD Debut, "Fat Heaven", John appeared on the "Behind The Scenes with the Ronnie's Block Party Tour on Howard TV (InDemand) and has written and contributed to The Miserable Men radio Show on Sirius Satellite Howard 101. He can be heard on Howard 100, Howard 101, The Dudley and Bob Show and Sirius Raw Dog Channel 104 as well as his own weekly podcast, "John Tole's America". John was also a welcome addition to The Moontower Comedy Festival and was the face and host of the Blue MoonTower Adult Show.

Dave Scher - Born and raised in Austin, Texas, "Live Music Capital of the World," Dave Scher comes from artistically rich beginnings. After learning from the best in the magnet program at Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Dallas, he won a scholarship to attend prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Throughout the refining of his artistryon guitar, bass and vocals, Dave has been an impassioned songwriter. He now performs regularly around central Texas, both as soloist and with his namesake trio, wowing new and longtime fans with arrangements of contemporary and original material. With his instrumental virtuosity and soulful singing voice, he's an indelibly remarkable presence on the Austin music scene.

Vonny, Bryan Gutmann & Ray Prim

Bios:
Vonny - Hailing from the beautiful city of Sydney, Australia, Undeniably red-streaked dance/pop singer VONNY is on a mission to make her musical mark in 2012 and beyond. Melding soulful and soaring vocals over irresistibly contagious dance grooves, VONNY will have you dancing, singing and asking yourself…What the ‘f’ just happened? Determination and persistence are her strengths and she knows exactly what she wants and why she has to do it. When asked about what drives her ambition…Vonny’s answer is clear. ”I have a story to tell.” Exuding strength, charisma, sass and sometimes even a little vulnerability. This is VONNY and this is her story.

Bryan Gutmann - Bryan is a stand-up comedian based out of Austin, TX. Since first performing in 2005, Bryan has gone on to work with some of the greats including Marc Maron, Hannibal Burress, and Norm MacDonald. Constantly writing and performing, Bryan has a laid back but very creative style of thoughtful, observational comedy. In 2007, Bryan was a featured performer on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”. He’s also performed at the first annual Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival in 2012, and has also appeared at the New Faces showcase during the 2011 installment of the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Ray Prim - Ray Prim is a Singer Soulwriter based in Austin, Texas. Alongside April Stephens, John Ray, Alberto Ferrer, Kreole Randolph and Mike Robledo, Ray takes you back to the days when songs were inspiring, meaningful and thought provoking. His songs are melody-based short stories that anyone can related to. Ray's four studio CD's "This Ain't Rocket Science," "Sherman Ray Prim, Jr.," "The World According to Me and Miss Shenequah Jones" and "Beautiful Mistakes" take listeners on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from laughter to tears. His live shows take his music up a level by adding special guests and frequently having the audience sing along. Hungry people don't stay hungry for long and Ray is starving to make music that will put a smile on your face. Have a listen, spread the word, and it's a guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Snoop Daniel, Ryan Cownie & J Ray

Bios:
Snoop Daniel - Snoop began his radio career as an intern on The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show in Dallas. After stints at the KISS FM, The Eagle, 99.5 The Wolf and 105.3 FM TALK, Jonathan moved to Austin in 2002. He produced the morning show at 101X, before taking over sports update duties at 1300 the Zone. From there, he landed morning stripes at 104.3 The Beat, winning a Austin American 360 Award for Best Morning Show in 2007. He started and maintains Austin's #1 high school football show, Friday Night Fanstand - where he hosts 7-11pm on sister station Majic 95.5 FM. But his bread and butter is RnB!

Ryan Cownie - Ryan Cownie is a funny young punk. But it's not just how effortlessly he plays the star in his own mind, the perfect satire for a culture in which everyone is their own multi-platformed icon. It’s also his deadpan and disconnected ballsiness. At one performance, I watched him riff for minutes with an audience in audible discomfort and mild offense on how men who love UT football do so because they are cock gobbling bottom bitches. It wouldn’t have been funny had it been delivered in aggression; instead Cownie’s act is at the intersection of an autism spectrum disorder and Yelawolf.

Yes, he also does more traditional riffs on relationships that prey on the visual dissonance of sociopathic undertones coming out of the mouth of someone who looks like Harry Stiles' library science alter ego. But the real magic happens when he picks a random person in the audience and tries to initiate a friendship, desperately, with a maliciously sexual subtext that reads like the index of the DSM-V. Cownie’s playful, bright and experimental sense of fucking with you make him one of the most intriguing voices in the Austin comedy scene. That he’s also proficient in subtle micro expressions and ambushing punchlines makes the viewing of his debut short film, Cownie, all that much more required.

J Ray - J RAY is a 2-piece band plus a cardboard robot from outer space, Boxman 3000, who’s plans to destroy planet Earth are constantly being foiled by J Ray’s music. Basically, J RAY is one part Beck, one part Cake, then sprinkle a bit of Slightly Stoopid on the rocks. His first solo project started when he was composing the music for the independent feature film, Chameleon Code, produced by his production company, One Riot One Ranger. Since then, he has unleashed his rampant mind of a strange imagination, translating thoughts into a collection of sounds manifesting into a full-fledged debut album entitled: Some People.

AJ Vallejo, Maggie Maye & Woody Russell

Bios:
AJ Vallejo - A melting pot of infectious swaggering rock laced with Latin percussion and fiery live performances has made VALLEJO one of the most popular bands to hail from Austin, Texas.

Raised in the small town of El Campo, Texas on their parent’s LP collection of Tito Puente, Santana & Tijuana Brass, VALLEJO was first formed by the three Vallejo brothers A.J. (Vocals, Guitar), Alejandro (Drums), and Omar (Bass). Learning music by playing trumpet in the high school marching band and jamming to friend’s mixtapes of classic rock and funk, the brothers eventually migrated to picking up the guitar, bass and drums to create something that was instantly recognizable on the airwaves as their own.

Since then, VALLEJO has racked up fans one by one with thousands of high energy shows and a growing catalog of album releases including Sins (Chapel Lane), Shining Sun, Beautiful Life (TVT Records), Into the New (Epic Records) with famed Latin music producer Emilio Estefan Jr. (Miami Sound Machine), Stereo, Leftovers, Steamboat Live & Black Sky on the Vallejo brother’s own label VMG (Vallejo Music Group). In 2009, VALLEJO released their critically acclaimed album, Thicker Than Water (VMG/Quadra) and recently took home the award for “Best Rock Band” at the Texas Latin Music Awards.

VALLEJO has toured extensively throughout the United States and Mexico sharing the stage with bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Fuel, 3 Doors Down, Juanes, Molotov, Black Crowes, The Foo Fighters, Matchbox 20, Shinedown & Los Lobos. The band has also had their songs featured in several TV shows such as HBO’s True Blood, ABC’s The Unusuals, WB’s Roswell, MTV’s Road Rules and UPN’s America’s Next Top Model.

In 2013, VALLEJO is back with their first new album in four years entitled Brothers Brew. Written, recorded & produced by the Vallejo brothers, the CD will feature ten new songs recorded at VMG Studios in South Austin, Texas. Featuring the first single & video for the mid-tempo groover “Waiting On You”, bombastic opening track “Free” and album closer “Nothing To Lose” – Vallejo’s new CD Brothers Brew proves that for this band of brothers – the rhythm is undeniably still in the blood.

Maggie Maye - Maggie Maye has always loved and had a knack for making people laugh. An actress and writer since childhood, she finally decided to try what people suggested she do for her whole life- stand up comedy. From her first time on stage, Maggie knew she was in love. Since then, Maggie has been called "one of the hottest new up and coming comics in Austin." She has had the opportunity to work with some comedic heavy hitters, such as Felicia Michaels, Rachel Feinstein and the legendary Paul Mooney, who not only told her she was funny, but gave her the nickname "Black Barbie." She's also been a featured performer at the Ladies are Funny Festival as well as the Out of Bounds Festival. If you see her perform, expect for Maggie to use her charm, wit and backhanded form of observational humour to make you laugh and think.

Woody Russell - Critically acclaimed, award winning guitarist, singer and songwriter, Woody Russell, has released a body of recorded work that spans from the folk-rock infused songwriter fare of his first album, …as simple as that (1996), to his IMA nomination (Album Of The Year) for Salt (2005), to the critically praised blues and soul release, Up Against It (2010). Most recently, he released his “living album project”, Big Sky (2012); an ever expanding compilation of instrumentals focused on his jazz and film music recordings. In September, 2013 Russell will release, Delicious Days; a new album infused with sophisticated arrangements and harmony more closely associated with jazz. But again, his signature pop-soul-blues vibe is woven tastefully throughout his first-rate songwriting.

"Delicious Days is the most ambitious album project I’ve done to date in terms of the complexity of the music, the scope of the band and the production. These songs, a balance of those that are funky and light with some that are reflective and thoughtful, are an amalgam that I strive to find in my songwriting. Collectively they resonate with a certain sense of romance, longing, searching and ultimately, gratitude. I suspect that this is music for people who’ve lived a little, you know, who have some personal history under their belt. These are the characters that inhabit Delicious Days."

It’s a recording that presents, front and center, the solid musicianship of, not only Russell, but a cast of “A-list” Austin based musicians. The playing throughout the recording is focused, brimming with excellent ensemble interplay, as well as, inspired solos.

Woody Russell was a prominently featured artist on Season One of the CW Network's, "Troubadour, TX"; airing weekly in over 20 million households nationwide from Sept. 2011 through Sept. 2012. He also toured as one of four artists chosen to represent the program

Dale Watson, Rob Gagnon & The Possum Posse

Bios:
Dale Watson - A staunch adherent of old-style honky tonk and Bakersfield country, Dale Watson has positioned himself as a tattooed, stubbornly independent outsider only interested in recording authentic country music. As a result, he has never sold many records, but his music has been championed by numerous critics and alternative country fans.

Watson was born in Alabama in 1962 but spent his teenage years near Houston, and he grew to think of Texas as his true home state. His father and brother were both musically inclined, and he began writing his own songs at age 12, making his first recording two years later. After graduating from high school, he spent seven years playing local clubs and honky tonks. He moved to Los Angeles in 1988 on the advice of Rosie Flores and soon joined the house band at North Hollywood's now-legendary alt-country venue the Palomino Club. He recorded two singles for Curb in 1990, "One Tear at a Time" and "You Pour It On," and appeared on the third volume of the compilation series A Town South of Bakersfield in 1992. Not long after, he moved to Nashville and spent some time writing songs for the Gary Morris publishing company.

Watson didn't find commercial country much to his taste, and he relocated to the more progressive-minded scene in Austin, TX, where he formed a backing band called the Lone Stars. He scored a deal with Hightone and released his debut album, Cheatin' Heart Attack, in 1995. It was greeted with enormous acclaim for the vitality Watson brought to his vintage-style material and performances and also featured a witty dig at mainstream country in "Nashville Rash." Follow-up Blessed or Damned appeared in 1996 and continued in a similar vein, as did 1997's I Hate These Songs. His next release, The Truckin' Sessions, appeared on Koch in 1998 and was devoted entirely to that distinct country subgenre of truck-driving songs.

Unfortunately, it was almost his last. In 2000, Watson's fiancée was killed in an automobile accident; devastated, he attempted to drown his sorrows in booze and drugs and nearly died of an overdose shortly after Christmas. He wound up checking himself into a mental institution to recover and re-emerged later in 2001 with the deeply sorrowful tribute Every Song I Write Is for You, which appeared on Koch's new country imprint Audium. A couple of lower-key releases followed, the holiday album Christmas in Texas (2001) and Live in London, England (2002). In 2004, with his heart still on his sleeve, but a thicker skin, Watson released Dreamland. He also prepared himself for the lead role in Zalman King's forthcoming cowboy drama, Austin Angel.

Watson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame one year later. He took a break from music for the majority of that year, moving to Maryland in order to spend more time with his daughters. He was back playing gigs in Austin by 2006, and a documentary on Watson, Crazy Again, premiered at SXSW that year. Directed by Zalman King, the film charted Watson's mental breakdown following the death of his fiancée. A new full-length, From the Cradle to the Grave, came out in 2007, along with a second album, The Little Darlin' Sessions. The Truckin' Sessions, Vol. 2 appeared in 2009 from Hyena Records. The following year saw the release of Carryin' On, which featured session players active in the '50s and '60s, the era so beloved by Watson. In 2012 he released El Rancho Azul on Red House, with his road band, the Lonestars

Rob Gagnon - Rob Gagnon is a comedic actor based in Austin where he produces and performs regularly at The New Movement Theater (TNM 10, Block Party Co-Host, The Sticky Boys). He is also a tornado comprised of the hearts of lions and the men who stood in his way. Rob has performed at Carolines, Stand Up New York, and won the Funny Bones’ Last Comedian Standing Competition (Connecticut). He has also performed for Zeus, Guy Fieri, and won the Heavens Little Sinner Comedy Competition (The Clouds).

The Possum Posse - The Possum Posse is the world's premier sardonic honky-tonk bluegrass band, not that anybody cares about that. Based in Austin, TX, they try (sometimes much too hard) to win over audiences by playing memorable originals as well as mashed-up versions of urban cult-classics and girlie-pop favorites.

They are perhaps best known for their wildly popular viral video series, “Guy On A Buffalo,” which has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, Forbes.com, G4's Attack of the Show, and other national media.

The Possum Posse has also made a name for themselves as one of the most entertaining, engaging, and unique acts around. Their unique brand of self-deprecating humor and smart songwriting defies hokey country-"comedy" stereotypes. The band takes the job of humor seriously.

Smackola, Derek Phelps & Michael Dillard

Bios:
Smackola - In 2012, the new CD from Dirty Wormz titled Out­break (pro­duced by Smack­ola & AJ Vallejo) takes their game to a new level — spit­ting harder rhymes and churn­ing faster wig split­ting riffs guar­an­teed to make any pit erupt. Fea­tur­ing guest appear­ances from Tech n9ne, Krizz Kaliko, and Benji Webb of Skin­dred. Not one to sit back and relax –Smack­ola just released a free Dirty Wormz app for all smart­phones to keep up with tour dates and news.

Smack­ola will also begin a follow up solo album to Syn­drome of the Al Qaeda Sand Spider called Ghost of Bin Laden imme­di­ately after the release of Out­break. There is another solo project (cur­rently unti­tled) set to be released in 2013 that will be co-produced by Clown of Slip­knot. 2013 will also see the release of the movie Worm Head and a Worm Head comic book (DWZ Comix).

Dirty Wormz have recently caught the ear of the num­ber one inde­pen­dent rap­per in the world Tech N9ne of Strange Music. Who has asked them to join his K.A.B.O.S.H. ( Killing America’s Beliefs On Society’s Hoods) rock project. They have already recorded a few songs and will release an album together later in 2013 enti­tled Amafrican Psy­cho.

Dirty Wormz is more than just a band it’s a brand! And they will con­tinue to keep it greasy and spread the infection.

Derek Phelps - Derek Phelps is a singular comedian - more interested in the little hair at the end of his nose and how he can dislodge the piece of floss stuck in his teeth rather than politics or pop-culture. Derek has a unique sense of pacing and delivery, and his material has a penchant for finding comfort in the uncomfortable-ness.

He garnered attention in 2009 entering into the prestigious FPIA (or, Funniest Person In Austin) contest for the first time, advancing to the semi-finals of the competition. And then, in 2010, he repeated this amazing feat. Yes, it was amazing. Never done before. By him.

Derek is also a successful musician, having appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS, The Jools Holland Later Show on BBC2 and continues to perform in festivals and large venues around the world. Currently he plays trumpet or cowbell in Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears and the Afrobeat band Hard Proof.

Michael Dillard - Michael Dillard is a homegrown product of Austin Texas and has been influenced by the city's rich musical culture since his youth. Having absorbed everything from pop to classic rock, he has developed a diverse appreciation for unique elements of performance.

Living in one of the richest talent hubs in the nation has its privileges. Michael has been able to collaborate and develop his own approach to being an independent artist. His song-writing style is an honest and bold step toward defining his own brand of acoustic rock.

When performing live, Michael creates an instant connection with his fans due to his electric presence on stage. This combined with lyrics that impact and collaborations with some of the most accomplished musicians in the local scene have helped Michael embrace his place as one of Austin's new and growing talents.

In an era of artists that blend and take few risks, Michael Dillard is an energizing raw talent that will certainly leave his mark embedded in the live music capital of the world.

Amy Barton, Nicholas Aluotto & Blue Bear

Bios:
Amy Barton - With a lifelong love of music, Amy Barton finally landed in Austin, Texas! Spending her childhood in Dallas, her teens and much of her twenties in Orlando, FL, made it back to Texas in 2009 with great joy. Three years ago, Amy found the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, quickly becoming a very active HAAMBassador and Good Egg and is soon taking over as Chair of the Good Eggs and HAAM, a social arm and advocacy group dedicated to helping HAAM! As a recent graduate of St. Edwards University with her Bachelor’s degree in Art and Psychology, she is looking forward to continuing her education to become a certified, professional Art Therapist. Amy has also recently taken on the responsibility of Volunteer Coordinator (as a volunteer herself) for Big Medium, the folks that put on the EAST and WEST Austin Studio Tours as well as other art related events around town. This is all in addition to her day job of being an Inside Sales Representative for The Broadleaf Group, an IT Consulting Company. In her spare time, she catches as much live music as she can with many wonderful shows under her belt!

Nicholas Aluotto - Nick Aluotto’s unique brand of deadpan comedy has brought enjoyment to many people over the years. A stand-up comic par excellence, his poker-faced narration of hilarious and uninhabited jokes makes him a formidable talent. In simple words, Nick will get you drunk on humor.

Nick first took to the stage at the historic Laff Stopp in Houston, Texas back in 2003 and has grown quite considerably since. He has proved his mettle alongside comedians such as Doug Stanhope, Patrice Oneil, Jim Norton, Shane Mauss, Billy D Washington and Ron Shock.

Nick is an observer and gets his inspiration from pretty much anything around him. He has the gift to spot the unobvious and uses it to best advantage in his humor. The mild mannered and almost straight-laced comedian can churn out jokes that are downright funny and contrary to his mannerisms, anything but prudish.

Nick’s comedy has not just won him many fans, but also fetched him accolades at comedy events. He was a semi finalist at the 2004 ‘Funniest Person in Houston’ contest, a finalist at the same competition in 2005, and has featured in the Houston Comedy Festival 2005. His well-received 2010 album "Punched Lined" now available on Itunes is explicitly delicious and riotous.

As a young stand-up talent, Nicholas Aluotto has craved a niche for himself and is set to soar greater heights.

Blue Bear - Earthy and layered with a warm yet urgent vibe, Blue Bear isn’t the only scruffy-but-sophisticated pack of indie-rockers casting their lot in the always-crowded Austin music scene. But, even at less than two years of existence, they may be one of the most promising, stacking melody upon melody with the sort of rootsy grace often attributed to their heroes (Fleet Foxes and the Decemberists among them). The occasional rockabilly-inspired guitar lick, folksy cover, or twangy harmony might give a little rustic texture to their music, but overall the Blue Bear collective is among the most forward-looking bands to occasionally cross paths with the Americana singer/songwriter scene in modern Texas.

Nakia, Amber Bixby & Paul Renna

Bios:
Nakia - Austin-based, Alabama-raised singer/songwriter Nakia has a heart that beats to the rhythms of Muscle Shoals soul, pumping blood infused with Stax funk to cells lined with Chicago blues grooves. His vocal talent is the kind that instantly turns listeners into fans — among them CeeLo Green, who invited Nakia to sing on his Muppets Christmas special.

On his new EP, Drown in the Crimson Tide, releasing March 5 on Something-Music, Nakia unleashes that voice on six songs he wrote in collaboration with top-tier artists including Barry Goldberg, Bleu, Chris Seefried, Aris Archontis and Brian West.

Amber Bixby - Frustrated with life never working out, Amber Bixby turned to stand-up comedy. Her optimistic view of pessimism and sardonic charm has won over countless audiences and won her a reputation as “Comedy’s Sweetheart of Darkness.” Bixby has been a rising star in the Austin scene after gaining recognition as a Finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin Contest, and she has since performed at festivals all over America, including Boston’s Women in Comedy Fest, New Orleans’ Hell Yes Fest, and the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival. Bixby also writes, acts and directs short films and comedy sketches. One of her short films Opciono Dos was recently selected by the Texas Independent Film Festival.

Paul Renna - Paul Renna is a visionary singer-songwriter from Austin, Tx. with the extraordinary ability to raise hidden emotions in his listeners, surreptitiously forcing feelings of love and longing and happiness and heartache from the depths of even the most hard-edged among us.

Wescott Eberts, Matt Sadler & Jackie Myers

Bios:

Wescott Eberts - I do my best to provide y'all with some recruiting coverage, then dabble in everything else that's important about Texas sports... I didn't grow up a Longhorn fan, but I became one quickly when I started going to UT in 2002, developing an equal love for Austin and love for the Longhorns, and the passion has only grown since then, reaching a pinnacle with the two championships in 2005, though hardly declining since then.

I was lucky enough for PB to give me a chance to express my thoughts about the Longhorns in this fine forum and hope that it benefits you as much as writing benefits me.

Perhaps I can provide some insight to y'all and help deepen your understanding about Texas. Or at least give you something to think about or disagree with. All that stuff is good.

Matt Sadler - You often hear music buffs marveling at the enormous number of bands and musical artists spawned by the Austin local scene--it is impressive, and if this were a music club, we'd probably address this phenomenon in gushing terms and excruciating detail. But this is a comedy club, so I hope it's okay if we instead speak of a similar, if less splashy scenario: The Austin comedy scene has likewise produced some uniquely gifted and highly successful funny folks--Johnny Hardwick (voice of "King Of The Hill's" Dale and former writer-producer on that show) and Howard Kremer and Brad "Chip" Pope (stars of "Austin Stories," co-writers of various HBO & other network pilots and shows) come quickly to mind.

Matt Sadler is clearly another comedian who will extend the Austin tradition of local boys (& girls) making very good. Matt has lived in Austin for more than a dozen years (given the steady influx of artistic types who move here, this practically makes him a native), and took his first steps into professional joke-telling right here in Austin. After a number of years of very hard work--honing the performance, steadily writing new material, hitting the road to further develop his craft--he's now a seasoned pro, with a slew of credits and accomplishments to do Austin proud. Examples? What is it with you pushy people? OK, keep your shirt on, I'll give you examples--don't I always?

Heck, as far back as the late '90s--OK, very late: 1999--he was distinguishing himself locally and demonstrating he could play in the big leagues, when HBO conducted a talent search that drew more than 100 comedians, Matt was selected the best of the bunch, and flown out to Hollywood to hold forth there at the Improv. More recently, in 2005 to be exact, that experience was echoed somewhat during the Carnival Comedy Challenge--about 75 comics were vying in that contest, and if you've already figured out Matt took first place here, too, you're starting to get the hang of this--and damn near as sharp as Matt is, if you don't mind me saying so. (Even if you do.) So it probably goes without saying there are plenty of other triumphs in Matt's career dossier. For instance, beyond the more obvious and expected crisscrossing of these United States to develop his skill and experience, he's also toured overseas, performing for the military in the Middle East and Asia, his TV credits include the aforementioned "Austin Stories," he's a very funny man and did I mention that he's an Austinite?

Jackie Myers - The Jackie Myers Band is a singer-songwriter style band with heavy jazz, blues and funk influences. The Jackie Myers Band originated in Austin TX with their first release "Count To Three" in 2009. They have been touring to support their 2nd album "Ten Foot Twins," released in 2012. They are currently working on a 3rd album they plan to release this coming January. Their instrumentation is most often drums, keys, vox and bass; however, the band has been known to host the occasional guitarist or horn player as well. They currently tour through Florida, Louisiana, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Kansas. All the albums and additional memorabilia are available for purchase off the band's website.

Locally, the Jackie Myers Band has had some success playing at the One-2-One bar, NXNW Brewery and Central Market North. Jackie plays an instrumental jazz brunch every Sunday when she's in town at Tamale House East.

This coming November, the band is doing their first tour up through the East Coast and participating in Eddie's Attic's bi-yearly singer-songwriter competition. They qualified for the competition on their last tour by winning the Monday night Singer-songwriter contest and their psyched to come back.

Gregg Ware, Jake Flores & Kalu James

Bios:

Gregg Ware - One-2-One Bar was opened on March 11, 2004 out of a mutual passion for live music by the owners, Gregg and Destinee Ware. We had originally opened as a neighborhood bar in downtown Austin, featuring local musicians a few times a week and then slowly grew to adding more local talent and a rooftop bar. As downtown Austin changed, so did we, and we decided to move our little home on 5th St. to a new and larger space on South Lamar.

At One-2-One Bar our focus has always been creating a space that musicians and fans alike feel at home in. We have always been huge supporters of the many talented artists that Austin has to offer, encouraging the public to support the local musicians with yearly HAAM benefits (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians) and other events that promote public awareness of the need to support and keep the local talent right here in Austin, TX.

One-2-One Bar will continue to be the place, where on any given night, you can see some of Austin's finest musicians doing what they do best, and have a damn good time doing it!

Jake Flores - When Jake Flores was asked to write a bio he logged in to his twitter account (@Jake_Flores y'all) and asked some of his friends to write it for him so he could do something else. According to the internet Jake Flores is and "a horrendous train wreck" and a "rad dude with a sick-*ss tude. No apologies, no fatties. NRA FOREVER." and "who is this."

“Fine I'll write it myself”, he said, and then this happened:

When I first attempted stand-up in Austin, TX I tried to write quick concise absurd jokes like the comedians on the picture box. I was one of the worst comics ever to touch a microphone. I'm almost proud of how bad I was. I got frustrated and went to an open mic to just sort of blow off some steam and talk about what was going on in my head, and to my surprise people started laughing. That's when I realized where the comedy goblin lives in my brain. After that I got (arguably) funny.

I showcased in the 2007 edition of NBC's Stand-Up for Diversity and after that began touring the country with the Altercation Punk Rock Comedy Tour. I honed my voice playing clubs, bars, rock venues, festivals, colleges, bathrooms, houses, everything. Once I had a festival set at 2pm so I got up at 9am and cooked a pancake feast which I served to the audience while telling jokes. Another time I dragged 20 people on stage and rolled around on the floor while we all freaked out about how much fun we were having. My act started to evolve.

I've worked with comics including Doug Stanhope, Tig Notaro, Jim Norton, Al Madrigal, Greg Fitzsimmons, and James Adomian. I've played The Fest (Gainesville FL) and Fun Fun Fun Fest (Austin TX) and I contribute to RE:COM MAG and Cracked.com. In 2012 I resurrected Spite Club, the legendary Austin insult comedy game show which I now host, book, and podcast (@SpiteClubPod).

Kalu James - Born in Nigeria, Kalu James moved to the United States at the age of 18 and although he had sung in the choir since age 9, it wasn't until he moved far from home to New York State in 2001 to study computer technology that he discovered his gift for songwriting. ​

With a blend of Blues-Rock, Soul and African folk rhythm, Kalu James brings to the table emotive, genuine lyrics with his remarkably unique and unforgettable style of vocal delivery.

To understand and experience Kalu’s passion is to see him live where his spirit truly shines. Kalu and his band evoke infectious tunes that will have your mind thinking and foot tapping days after the show.

Along with producers Ron Flynt and Walt Wilkins at Jumping Dog Studios in Austin, Texas, Eric Wilson released his new EP “New Leaf” in March 2013.

Kendall Beard, Mac Blake & Eric Wilson

Bios:

Kendall Beard - The title of Kendall Beard’s debut album, ALL AROUND GIRL, couldn’t be a more accurate reflection of this Texas country singer’s talents. Releasing Sept. 17 on the VMG label, it showcases her alluring sound on 10 songs co-written with producer AJ Vallejo and his brother Alex. Raised on Muscle Shoals and Louisiana soul crossed with Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert, Beard, a season eight “American Idol” semifinalist, delivers sultry vocals on both rockin’ tracks such as her sexy first single and video, “Drinkin’,” and introspective ballads such as “Give You the World.”

Mac Blake - Mac Blake comes from the bearded streets of Austin, TX. He’s performed at the New Faces of Comedy Showcase at Just for Laughs Montreal, SXSW Comedy, the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, and the San Francisco Comedy and Burrito Festival (he was one of the burritos). He was also the winner of the 2013 Funniest Person in Austin contest.

Eric Wilson - Eric Wilson was born in August 1979 in Houston,Texas to small town natives, Belanie and Bill. It was in elementary school that Eric knew he could sing and by junior high, he was nationally competing on a choir team. “The whole family knew Eric was destined for entertainment from his multiple performances on top of the fireplace in his diapers, dancing, clapping and baby-singing George Jones.”

Wilson graduated at 17 with honors in the top 10 percentile of his class. Attending the University of Texas in Austin, studying business and corporate communication, Eric graduated, put on a tie and went to find a jobby-job. But countless interviews were leading him nowhere. He couldn’t find a position and was hardly interested in the career he’d chosen. One day he walked up to the bartender at a small pub and asked if he could play some songs for his friends. The bartender said, “I don’t care,” and for the next two years, Eric packed the place out, being the first of thousands to play a show at the Blind Pig, now a staple in the music scene in the infamous “dirty 6″ district located in the heart of downtown Austin… home of SXSW. It was then that Eric realized his hobby was to turn into the career he DID want.

In 2010, Wilson recorded “Old Me” in Nashville with producer, Chris Grainger, (Wilco, Switchfoot). “Old Me” is a call back, coming of age track delivered in a promising, poppy manner mirroring Wilson’s unwaning, optimistic view that one can live freely amongst paralyzing worry and regret.

Along with producers Ron Flynt and Walt Wilkins at Jumping Dog Studios in Austin, Texas, Eric Wilson released his new EP “New Leaf” in March 2013.

Alex Vallejo, Maggie Maye & The Soap Boxers

Bios:

Alex Vallejo - Alejandro “Alex” Vallejo was introduced to music by first playing the trumpet in the marching, symphonic and jazz bands at his high school in Birmingham, Alabama. During his senior year, he started playing drums in the jazz band as well, and by graduation had decided that drumming was what he wanted to pursue professionally.

Since then, Alejandro and his band of brothers VALLEJO have racked up fans one by one with thousands of high energy shows and a growing catalog of album releases including Sins (Chapel Lane), Shining Sun, Beautiful Life (TVT Records), Into the New (Epic Records) with famed Latin music producer Emilio Estefan Jr. (Miami Sound Machine), Stereo, Leftovers, Steamboat Live & Black Sky on the Vallejo brother’s own label VMG (Vallejo Music Group). In 2009, VALLEJO released their critically acclaimed album, Thicker Than Water (VMG/Quadra) and recently took home the award for “Best Rock Band” at the Texas Latin Music Awards.

VALLEJO has toured extensively throughout the United States and Mexico sharing the stage with bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Fuel, 3 Doors Down, Juanes, Molotov, Black Crowes, The Foo Fighters, Matchbox 20, Shinedown & Los Lobos. The band has also had their songs featured in several TV shows such as HBO’s True Blood, ABC’s The Unusuals, WB’s Roswell, MTV’s Road Rules and UPN’s America’s Next Top Model.

In 2012, VALLEJO is back with their first new album in four years entitled Brothers Brew and showcases ten new songs recorded at VMG Studios in South Austin, Texas.

Maggie Maye - Maggie Maye has always loved and had a knack for making people laugh. An actress and writer since childhood, she finally decided to try what people suggested she do for her whole life- stand up comedy. From her first time on stage, Maggie knew she was in love. Since then, Maggie has been called "one of the hottest new up and coming comics in Austin." She has had the opportunity to work with some comedic heavy hitters, such as Felicia Michaels, Rachel Feinstein and the legendary Paul Mooney, who not only told her she was funny, but gave her the nickname "Black Barbie." She's also been a featured performer at the Ladies are Funny Festival as well as the Out of Bounds Festival. If you see her perform, expect for Maggie to use her charm, wit and backhanded form of observational humour to make you laugh and think.

The Soap Boxers - The Soap Boxers are the retro side of rock music that brings back the art of being a band. Formed in the live music homeland of Austin Texas, this talented and seasoned group dominates with tenacity and presence, with each member skillfully bringing their own unique element to the group. Their live show is pure and driven by the strength of their musical convictions, which remain rooted in vocal and melodic truth.

Next Show:

Alex Vallejo - The Modern Engineer AMF Panel September 18th at Soundcheck Studios

Tucker Jameson, Alex Franco & Brandon Wark

Bios:

Tucker Jameson - Where were you when Napster slammed the coffin lid shut on the old-school music business? Tucker Jameson was writing songs in his suburban Connecticut bedroom and playing guitar till his little 10-year-old fingers ached or his mother commanded, “Lights out!” While his classmates pored over Harry Potter books or glued their thumbs to Nintendo games, Jameson scrutinized the liner notes to Revolver and Nevermind.

Jameson is part of the first post-CD generation, yet he’s steeped in the rock classics that form a necessary foundation for anyone hoping to build a music career lasting longer than the blink of a YouTube video.
After some early adventures in recording, Jameson toured the country and landed in Austin, determined to use his rock appreciation and Berklee-honed skills to write modern songs that speak to his own generation. He spent a year working in the studio, finally emerging with a group of tunes that unequivocally achieve his goal. “Son of Superbia,” “Technological Warfare” and “Ritalin” couldn’t have been written in the ’60s or the ’90s, but they contain the kind of power-pop songcraft that fans of any rock era can identify with.

Tucker and his band are hitting the road in July and August. Following the tour, they head back to the studio to record new songs for a 2014 release.

Alex Franco - Known as “The Pride of El Paso, Texas”, Alex (formerly known as “Digitz” on the JB & Sandy Morning Show) has been on air in Austin for over 10 years! The boss gave him the 7-12 midnight slot earlier this year virtually pulling a “two a day” but that doesn’t slow him down...he loves this!

Not only will you get to hear the hottest new music on “The Hot Mix” but you’ll always know everything you need to know about your town, AUSTIN TEXAS!

Tune in to Alex on the JB & Sandy Morning Show weekdays from 6-10 am and NOW in the evenings weekdays from 7-12 midnight!

Brandon Wark - 3 Guys, 3 Takes, 1 love…..Sports! The 3 Guys Sports Show, comprising of Alex Franco, Brandon Wark & Chris Sanchez have been bringing their heart, passion and views on the world of sports to Talk 1370 for four years. They’re sports fans just like all of their listeners, and deliver strong opinions from the everyday fan’s perspective. The 3 Guys understand that Austin is an ever expanding city with many sports fans from all over the country, and those fans want more than just a regular dose of burnt orange. By bringing a unique blend of national and local sports topics, the 3 Guys cater to all sports fans. The 3 Guys Sports Show can be heard every Friday night 6-7pm on Talk Radio 1370, online at www.talk1370.com or on the TuneIn Radio mobile app.

Candiland, Jake Sharon & Ter'ell Shahid

Bios:

Candiland - Candiland's music is a powerhouse mixture of upbeat, funky R&B soul, laced with the feverish kinetic energy of rock 'n roll. Born in a house full of music through her father, Charles Sanders', classic R&B act, Kool & Together, Candice Sanders is a love child of inspirational music that transcends genres and heals the woes of the hard modern life. From the first note of her magical voice at live performances, Candice raises the temperature in the room, as well as the energy level, and then the night belongs to her and everyone within earshot.

Her debut album, "Rumble In The Playground", produced by fellow Texan and collaborator, AJ Vallejo, is a lifetime-in-the-making tribute to her musical idols: Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and the great Aretha, to name a few, featuring a who's who list of Austin's finest talents such as Guy Forsyth, David Grissom (Dixie Chicks, John Mellencamp), Phil Redmond, Selton Cole, Haydn Vitera (Asleep At The Wheel) and many more.

With a highly-anticipated debut release in tow, a fiery live show and band, and a hunger and determination to turn any ear on her infectious 'rock & soul' sound, Candice Sanders is poised to make some serious noise and excite a vast demographic of music lovers, old and new, to elevate their senses in the sweet, sweet world of Candiland.

Candice Sanders’ CANDILAND is the epitome of pure Rock ‘N Soul from the heart of Austin, Texas. Featuring some of the best players in town, the CANDILAND live show is sure to have the whole house on their feet

Jake Sharon - Jake Sharon is a silly, brain damaged goofyhead. His improv background & his years of secret revenges fuel his manic outbursts on the stand-up stage. Jake talks about his bizarre encounters with shameless strangers on Craigslist, Craigslist Rideshare, & Couchsurfing.org. Jake Sharon is also an unfettered optimist. From the economy, to bed bugs, to his bad tattoos, Jake talks about how you can find a bright side to anything.

Jake talks philosophy and ancient Chinese wisdom. Then he lightens it back up with stories about his concussions, his policeman dad, his tactical vest, rock & roll, interactions with Craigslisters, and winning his 8th grade spelling bee.

Jake has opened for Jim Jefferies, Brian Regan, Jon Reep, Nick Vatterott, Kyle Kinane, Ben Kronberg, Shane Mauss, & David Alan Grier. Jake tours colleges & some of the best clubs across the country including the Denver Comedy Works, Harvey's, the Improvs, etc. He was featured in the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, The Seattle International Comedy Competition, The Rocky Mountain Laugh Off, Austin's Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, twice in the Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival, and 3 times in the Boston Comedy Festival. His antics have appeared on ESPN, Warner Bros.' Elimidate, and Reader'sDigest.com.

Ter'ell Shahid - Ter'ell Shahid has been in the Austin scene for many years. He writes, produces, mixes and masters music for many wellknown local artists. He also managed Spirits Night Club on historic 6th Street in downtown Austin through the mid 90's, and was part-owner of his own venue "One15" from 2006 through 2009. He was a member of the Austin Music Commission from 2009 through 2011, and has music that has been placed in TV, Radio, and Film. He is currently being sought out by several production teams & has joined Big G Artists Booking Agency in Louisiana. Ter'ell recently released his ﬁfth solo album entitled "Cornbread".

Next Show:

Candiland - Saturday, August 31st at One 2 One Bar with Michael Dillard and Jess & The Echoes

Jake Sharon - Friday, August 30th at the Velveeta Room, Saturday, August 31st at Austin Java, Sunday September 1st at the Velveeta Room

Dahebegebees, Brendan K. O'Grady & Chris Sanchez

Bios:

Dahebegebees - DaHeBeGeBeeS spawned from the very vibrant musical melting pot that is Austin TX. Austin’s mix of Blues, Rock, Latin, Funk, and Soul helped in the making of Dahebegebees sound.

Ady Hernandez (guitar/lead vocals) a 3rd generation musician, started the group originally with Cecilio Ruiz and Jonas Saks in the late 90′s and today, the band includes D WaTz (drums/vocals), Aaron Hatmaker (bass) and Miguel McDonald (vocals) with horn section Kevin Flatt (trumpet), Paul Deemer (trombone) and Mitch Quintanilla (sax). Together, they have played countless shows traveling miles across the U.S., forging this band into a tight, powerful unit.

Since then the band has made its name into some of the most elite circles in the music game from Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, War, Heart, Little Joe Y La Familia, Toby Keith, Ja rule, Malo, El Chicano, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson and many more. Dahebegebees have created a fresh sound with thoroughly danceable groove-based songs compiled with melody, lots of harmonies, hooks galore and, above all, substance. The group is musically sophisticated with marathon live performances drawing from such artist like Santana, Maceo Parker, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews, and D’angelo. This band will put your soul in a happy place.

Dahebegebees are performing and touring in promotion of their latest CD, Grateful, so be on the lookout in a city near you.

Brendan K. O'Grady - Brendan K. O'Grady is a comedian residing in Austin, TX, where he produces and co-hosts the popular weekly stand-up showcase "SURE THING." He has had his picture in the newspaper.

Chris Sanchez - Chris Sanchez is a born and raised Austinite who has always had a passion for sports. Chris now spends his time as a co-host of the 3 Guys Sports Show and Friday Night Fanstand on Talk 1370.

Johnny Goudie, Jon Stringer & The Sweet Nuthin

Bios:
Johnny Goudie - the songwriter behind Johnny Goudie and the Little Champions - is a sponge. Part collaborator, part actor, and part producer, Goudie has traveled the artistic gauntlet, absorbing the intricacies he’s seen both as a major label buzz band and a seasoned veteran of the industry.

Still, with a sincerity-laden ache suspended over an eclectic breadth of nuanced pop rock, Goudie is, at his heart, an artist. He crafts emotive, evocative tales of love, loss, and the tragedies in between, and his latest offering, El Payaso (Spanish for “The Clown”), taps even deeper into his personal nadir with a courageous sense of artistic adventure.

Throughout his career, Goudie has been able to interweave his own experiences with his heartfelt, indie-tinged sound. Admittedly, as a kid growing up with artistically-minded parents, Goudie followed the musical path for one reason: “I just really connected with music because you could really get chicks that way, honest to God,” he laughs. But his talents eventually enveloped the days of puberty and awkward dances, and young Johnny had found his calling. His previous band, Goudie, dazzled with glam rock fervor, capturing the attention of, amongst others, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich. The ensuing major label deal led to the 2000 release of the critically-acclaimed Peep Show, an album that allowed the band the opportunity to tour with the likes of Blur, Veruca Salt, and Supergrass.

As his former band came to an end, the frontman turned inwards for his subsequent solo offerings. The intimacy of that period is even further expressed on El Payaso. “I’m a very personal songwriter, but this time I really went into my box of issues,” he claims. That Pandora’s Box included, “Dealing with a parent in prison and sort of dealing with - not a bad upbringing - but definitely an unusual upbringing all over the country and Mexico. I drew from all those experiences on the record.”

"A life like an opera / without the ovation / with all of the drama and trouble", sings Goudie, and the words resonate with the fabric of his life. Drama and trouble entwine their way into Goudie’s sense of cunning lyricism, providing a reflective glimpse into what makes Goudie’s effervescent music shine. But El Payaso is more than just the story of Johnny Goudie: it shimmers with a breadth of emotions, from the poignant sincerity of “Every Night Before I Fall Asleep” to the absurdity of “You Can’t Pretend Forever”.

El Payaso also gives a glimpse of an artist that finds himself in a new place in life. It’s a fresh beginning for Goudie, both as a musician and as a person. “I feel like I’ve got more clarity; a handle on who I am. I feel like I’ve put a lot of my demons to rest,” he suggests. Those demons were ever-present on his solo efforts, including 2005’s Boy In A Box, an album drenched in the heartbreak of his recent divorce. This time around, Goudie is delving into an even more personal spectrum, and the result is soaked in the themes of loss and redemption. “I think it’s bridging my old life and new life together,” he explains.

Sonically, El Payaso is the bravest and most expansive work of Goudie’s career. It embraces new textures, from dramatic string sections to the perfectly placed squeals of horns. Gone are the days of recording everything in the isolated confines of his bedroom, instead opening his arms to a full backing band and stunning production from Jonas Wilson (The Lovely Sparrows, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral Five, Strange Boys) Lars Göransson (What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Cardigans, Alpha Rev) and Goudie himself. “I love playing with my band; I love the freedom that I have. [I’ve been able] to run wild with this album and do whatever the fuck I want,” he laughs.

Johnny Goudie’s freedom has created an album that is the zenith of his experience. From his days as Elektra Records darling to his time as a guitarist/keyboardist for Ian Moore and Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s, everything culminates into the vast musical portrait of El Payaso. It sweeps with dynamic shifts and resonates with bittersweet pop beauty. “And all of the monsters/That come from inside/Will find themselves lost/With nowhere to hide,” he croons on the album’s closer, “Listen To Me”. It’s the sound of an artist that is embracing the challenges of the past while pushing for a new future, and, ultimately, a new sense of self.

“Writing songs has saved my life,” details Goudie, and it’s evident on each of the vibrant tracks of El Payaso. “It’s what I do to feel better. I don’t just do them for chicks anymore.”

Jon Stringer - So what happen was, Edward Earl Stringer and Lilyette Lorraine Swinford made love so sweet, God developed diabetes. 9 euphoric months later, Jonathan James Stringer was birthed... (he gave the doctor a golden shower... true story) Bornin Tahoka, TX on September 19th 1981, Jon Stringer was the youngestof 3 children and an incurable attention whore, showing off since day one. Atage 5 he played Santa Clause in a school play, and would later serve as thekeynote speaker for his Kindergarten graduation. In Jr. High, he was labeled ajock but would shed his superior athlete reputation by becoming the classclown. By 15 he was writing, filming, and editing video comedy skits with hisfriends. In high school, he utilized the school newspaper and morning announcements to share his unique sense of humor with his peers. It was in highschool that Jon found his true passion… Comedy. Now he's 30, and just starting his life. Join him on his journey to the Awesomest!!!

The Sweet Nuthin - The Sweet Nuthin:
1. Play rocknroll;
2. Are 4 strapping young gents who
3. Offer exceptional womb service;
4. Will not B.S. you;
5. Are coming.

Monte Montgomery, Matt Sadler & Ray Prim

Bios:
Monte Montgomery - Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist Monte Montgomery is best described by one word, Musical. Having grown up immersed in music, he has been playing professionally since his early teens and is currently one of the hottest draws on the talent-packed Austin, Texas music scene and is well known throughout the U.S. for his electrifying live performances. As Terry Lickona, producer of the PBS-TV show Austin City Limits said it best, “Monte Montgomery blows people away. There’s no other way to describe it.”

Monte has earned praise from both critics and fellow musicians not only for his stunning and imaginative fretwork work but also for his talents as a soulful singer -songwriter with deep roots sensibilities. Awarded "Best Acoustic Guitar Player " for the 7th Year in a Row at the Austin Music Awards and on Guitar Player Magazine’s list of America's Top 50 All-Time Greatest Guitarists. Monte was the first name on the list of Guitar One magazine’s “Top 10 Best Undiscovered Guitarists in America.” And as Acoustic Guitar Magazine concurs: "Monte Montgomery is not your typical up-and-coming guitar god. He picks and frets with all ten fingers at once, stretching chord positions across an alarming six frets while playing rhythm strokes, melody and bass lines, all while casually tossing in faster-than-the-naked-eye harmonics, two-handed tapping, bass-style string slapping, percussive string stops, guitar-torturing neck bends, meanwhile leaves even electric players gasping. His exquisitely crafted, melodically and rhythmically sophisticated pop songs suggest the best of Fleetwood Mac, Squeeze and The Police, while just happening to integrate the most mind-boggling guitar work in the state of Texas."

Matt Sadler - You often hear music buffs marveling at the enormous number of bands and musical artists spawned by the Austin local scene--it is impressive, and if this were a music club, we'd probably address this phenomenon in gushing terms and excruciating detail. But this is a comedy club, so I hope it's okay if we instead speak of a similar, if less splashy scenario: The Austin comedy scene has likewise produced some uniquely gifted and highly successful funny folks--Johnny Hardwick (voice of "King Of The Hill's" Dale and former writer-producer on that show) and Howard Kremer and Brad "Chip" Pope (stars of "Austin Stories," co-writers of various HBO & other network pilots and shows) come quickly to mind.

Matt Sadler is clearly another comedian who will extend the Austin tradition of local boys (& girls) making very good. Matt has lived in Austin for more than a dozen years (given the steady influx of artistic types who move here, this practically makes him a native), and took his first steps into professional joke-telling right here in Austin. After a number of years of very hard work--honing the performance, steadily writing new material, hitting the road to further develop his craft--he's now a seasoned pro, with a slew of credits and accomplishments to do Austin proud. Examples? What is it with you pushy people? OK, keep your shirt on, I'll give you examples--don't I always?

Heck, as far back as the late '90s--OK, very late: 1999--he was distinguishing himself locally and demonstrating he could play in the big leagues, when HBO conducted a talent search that drew more than 100 comedians, Matt was selected the best of the bunch, and flown out to Hollywood to hold forth there at the Improv. More recently, in 2005 to be exact, that experience was echoed somewhat during the Carnival Comedy Challenge--about 75 comics were vying in that contest, and if you've already figured out Matt took first place here, too, you're starting to get the hang of this--and damn near as sharp as Matt is, if you don't mind me saying so. (Even if you do.) So it probably goes without saying there are plenty of other triumphs in Matt's career dossier. For instance, beyond the more obvious and expected crisscrossing of these United States to develop his skill and experience, he's also toured overseas, performing for the military in the Middle East and Asia, his TV credits include the aforementioned "Austin Stories," he's a very funny man and did I mention that he's an Austinite?

Ray Prim - Ray Prim is a Singer Soulwriter based in Austin, Texas. Alongside April Stephens, John Ray, Alberto Ferrer, Kreole Randolph and Mike Robledo, Ray takes you back to the days when songs were inspiring, meaningful and thought provoking. His songs are melody-based short stories that anyone can related to. Ray's four studio CD's "This Ain't Rocket Science," "Sherman Ray Prim, Jr.," "The World According to Me and Miss Shenequah Jones" and "Beautiful Mistakes" take listeners on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from laughter to tears. His live shows take his music up a level by adding special guests and frequently having the audience sing along. Hungry people don't stay hungry for long and Ray is starving to make music that will put a smile on your face. Have a listen, spread the word, and it's a guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Ian McLagan, John Tole & Jelly & The Gruesome Twosome

Bios:

Jelly & The Gruesome Twosome - Jelly & The Gruesome Twosome were formed in a labrotory by a crazed scientist. While trying to combine the best parts of Rock and Blues a spill of pure awesomeness caused an explosion. The laboratory and the scientist were never seen again but the next day a spaceship landed in Austin, TX and out walked Jelly & The Gruesome Twosome. Sounds crazy right? I guess you should just come to the show.

John Tole - John Tole is a national touring stand up comic and regular with The Ronnie Mund Block Party Tour and has toured with The Killers of Comedy, The Sal and Richard Show and The Miserable Men Comedy Tour (The Howard Stern Show). John's over the top, high energy style has been nicknamed, "The Slayer of Comedy". He has worked with many nationally renown comedians including Greg Giraldo, Bill Burr, Jim Florentine, Jim Norton, Robert Kelly, Joe Rogan and Jim Jefferies. Fresh off of his CD Debut, "Fat Heaven", John appeared on the "Behind The Scenes with the Ronnie's Block Party Tour on Howard TV (InDemand) and has written and contributed to The Miserable Men radio Show on Sirius Satellite Howard 101. He can be heard on Howard 100, Howard 101, The Dudley and Bob Show and Sirius Raw Dog Channel 104 as well as his own weekly podcast, "John Tole's America". John was also a welcome addition to The Moontower Comedy Festival and was the face and host of the Blue MoonTower Adult Show.

Ian McLagan - Ian McLagan is a genuine, dyed-in-the-wool rock’n’roller. In fact, his smiling visage — he was, after all, a member of the Small Faces and the Faces— would serve as an ideal illustration in the proverbial Dictionary of What Is Truly Cool.

The man known to his many mates and even more fans and admirers as ‘Mac’ is the sort who shrugs off such puffery. And then he just carries on creating splendid and genuine rock’n’roll with his Bump Band as well as musically aid and abet a marquee line-up of truly blue ribbon talent that he has toured and recorded with: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Taj Mahal, John Hiatt, David Lindley, Paul Westerberg, Billy Bragg and Patty Griffin, to name some but hardly all of the notables that McLagan has worked with over his four-plus decade career.

He has also etched his distinctive musical talents onto the playlist of rock’n’roll history co-writing such Faces hits as Cindy Incidentally, You’re So Rude and Three Button Hand Me Down. His Wurlitzer electric piano is heard on everything from Stay With Me by the Faces to the smash hit Miss You by The Rolling Stones, and Mac’s trademark Hammond B-3 organ is featured on the Small Faces classic Itchycoo Park and Rod Stewart’s Maggie May and You Wear It Well.

McLagan entered the music game in Swinging London in the mid-1960s, and you can read all about it in his vivid and delightful memoir, All The Rage, a book that The Express hailed as “One of the best music books in years.” He ascended from the Top of the Pops with Small Faces to the pinnacle of rock with the Faces when Rod Stewart and Ron Wood joined the band. The rollicking Faces ruled 1970s album radio and sales charts as well as the stadiums, arenas and festivals around the world, leaving countless satisfied fans, many wild tales and more than a few quivering hotel managers in their wake. Whether McLagan is singing, writing and playing his own music or as the go-to guy for a session or tour, he has been and remains the quintessence of rock’n’roll.

Since he cut his debut solo album, Troublemaker, in 1979 — with two Rolling Stones (Keith Richards and Ron Wood) and a Beatle (Ringo Starr) among the players — McLagan has been making music in his own right that carries on the British rock tradition that he helped establish with the Small Faces and Faces on the albums Bump In The Night (1980), Best Of British (2000) and Rise & Shine! (2004). “It’s all raw, up front, in your face, rollicking greasy good-time music done by a master,” says All Music Guide of Rise & Shine!

In 2006, he released a touching tribute to his old bandmate, Spiritual Boy: An Appreciation of Ronnie Lane, acclaimed by the Dallas Observer as “a warm and fitting salute to one of rock’s sadly unsung master songwriters and a must-have disc.” Spiritual Boy has garnered chart success in Mojo and leaves a trail of glowing reviews in Rolling Stone, No Depression, Uncut, and Goldmine.

Since McLagan moved to Austin in 1994, the Bump Band has come to include some of the city’s best players: ‘Scrappy’ Jud Newcomb, one of Austin’s busiest and best guitarists (The Resentments, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Beaver Nelson), drummer Don Harvey, whose resume boasts putting the big beat behind Martha Davis, Joe Ely, and Charlie Sexton; and bassist Jon Notarthomas (Aimee Bobruk, Craig Marshall). Those not fortunate to catch McLagan & the Bump Band on tour or, when home, in their weekly residency at Austin’s Lucky Lounge can enjoy their magic on the CD Bump Live, which All Music Guide hailed as “the first real rock & roll record to be released in 2006.”

Awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award in 1996 for his outstanding contributions to British music and inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2004, McLagan is beloved by musicians and music lovers alike. He produced the Faces four CD boxed set, Five guys walk into a bar… for Rhino Records, and received a rare honor on April 6th, 2006, when it was proclaimed Ian ‘Mac‘ McLagan Day in Austin Texas. But rather than rest on his laurels, Ian McLagan continues to do what he has always done best: rock’n’roll.

In December of 2007 Ian ‘Mac’ McLagan and Glyn Johns, his old pal from Small Faces and Faces days, met at Sphere Studios in London to mix and master Ian McLagan’s beautiful and emotionally raw CD, Never Say Never. The self produced and directed album features McLagan’s award winning Bump Band: ‘Scrappy’ Jud Newcomb, Don Harvey and Mark Andes, and includes all original songs written by one of the best-loved musicians of our time. Patty Griffin graces Never Say Never with her soulful vocals and she and the Tosca Strings can be heard on the final track, the heart wrenching When The Crying Is Over. McLagan recorded and produced Never Say Never at The Doghouse Studios in Manor, Texas, and recorded Where Angels Hide on the Steinway in The Edythe Bates Old Chapel at The International Festival-Institute in Round Top, Texas.

Karl Morgan, Bryan Gutmann & Danny Crooks

Bios:

Karl Morgan - Karl Morgan is a soulful blues guitarist, singer and songwriter whose inspiring talent is reminiscent of the great blues and soul artists of the 60′s and 70′s. He hails from the small town of Geraldton, in remote Western Australia. Always a natural singer, it was only at the age of 15 that Karl realized music was where his ambition lay. While his Mother, a music teacher, had tried to teach him to play the piano many times from an early age, it wasn’t until his mid-teens that he picked up a classical guitar and began teaching himself to play.

A key point in Karl’s musical development was his introduction to the blues, but the foundations of his musical style have been laid by such varied influences as Donny Hathaway, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Wonder, BB King, The Meters, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Albert King, Bobby Bland, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, The Band and Al Green. It became his ambition to master the three elements which he felt so many of these artists embodied: great singing, songwriting and instrumental virtuosity. Karl then spent several years touring the Australian West Coast developing his own style, with the help of two WA Conservatorium of Music graduates, Joe Whittle on drums and Graham Local on bass.

In 2004 the band journeyed to Sydney’s 301 Studios and, with limited time and funds, recorded tracks for his debut album. This unfinished recording attracted the attention of Pied Piper Records of Nashville, Tennessee. Karl was offered a record deal and in the summer of 2006, was added to the label’s roster. With Pied Piper now behind him, he ventured back to Sydney in late 2006 to finish the recording. With ARIA Award-Winning Anton Hagop (Silverchair, Powderfinger) in the Engineer’s chair, as well as some of Australia’s finest blues and jazz players alongside him, including the famous Clayton Doley on keyboards, Karl finished the recording at Sydney’s Origami and Electric Avenue Studios to complete his impressive debut album, the equally rocking and soulful ‘Talkin’ With the Hands’.

Bryan Gutmann - Bryan is a stand-up comedian based out of Austin, TX. Since first performing in 2005, Bryan has gone on to work with some of the greats including Marc Maron, Hannibal Burress, and Norm MacDonald. Constantly writing and performing, Bryan has a laid back but very creative style of thoughtful, observational comedy. In 2007, Bryan was a featured performer on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”. He’s also performed at the first annual Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival in 2012, and has also appeared at the New Faces showcase during the 2011 installment of the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Danny Crooks - Danny Crooks is an open-book enigma. He’s a mystery, yet wears his heart on his sleeve. The music impresario of 6th Street in Austin, TX has “developed” more musicians than the law should allow. And although his dream boat, Steamboat, no longer exists, his heart is still in the music that made it great. A difficult childhood hasn’t stopped the man that brought Music to 6th Street. Danny outran the demons from his childhood, proving that “if you WANT a good life badly enough, you can accomplish anything!” He has passed that mantra on to every one of the bands that came to Steamboat, looking for the opportunity to prove themselves. Every budding musician felt he or she was going to be the next Beatle. But only if Danny “felt” their music, did they get the chance to become famous. Danny Crooks lives in Buda, Texas with his wife, Leslie, and their musician son, Sean.

Jess & The Echoes, Sandy McIlree and Lucas Molandes

Bios:
Jess & The Echoes - Jess and the Echoes is a fresh dynamic to the world of modern pop music. Formed in Austin, Texas the band naturally absorbs the energy of a music scene that thrives on bold and unique artists. They are led by the powerful and stirring vocals of Jess Kellner. Her expansive vocal depth reaches deep into an audience with a captivating emotional connection. The stage presence of Jess is supported by the solid musical foundation known as The Echoes. Cole Gramling is the electrifying keyboardist and backup vocalist that Sparks the band's dominant impact. Casey Savage is the lead guitarist that gives a careful edge to addictive arrangements and Ryan Parker is the drummer who provides the pocket for this standout ensemble. This remarkable young band has a broad and enthusiastic take on music that will certainly connect with any audience. They are the epitome of what happens when performing becomes less about style and technique and more about the quality of the moment.

Lucas Molandes - Lucas Mondales: Widely hailed by critics and colleagues as a defining talent of the Austin comedy scene, Lucas Molandes has an impressive list of accomplishments that include appearances at the prestigious Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” and twice appearing on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast.

Most recent, Lucas has split his time between Austin and New York, where he was a writer for season 1 of MTV's Failosophy, and MTV 2's season 3 of The Guy Code.

To call Lucas’s inimitable brand of comedy “observational” would be a gross understatement – he operates on an X-ray level, seeking out the dark and dusty corners of the human condition and relishing every opportunity to pick awkward truths and embarrassing gems from the wriggling bones of personal failures, weaknesses, unrequited expectations and (of course) love.

Michael Dillard

Album Title:Michael Dillard

Bio: Michael Dillard is a homegrown product of Austin Texas and has been influenced by the city's rich musical culture since his youth. Having absorbed everything from pop to classic rock, he has developed a diverse appreciation for unique elements of performance.

Living in one of the richest talent hubs in the nation has its privileges. Michael has been able to collaborate and develop his own approach to being an independent artist. His song-writing style is an honest and bold step toward defining his own brand of acoustic rock.

When performing live, Michael creates an instant connection with his fans due to his electric presence on stage. This combined with lyrics that impact and collaborations with some of the most accomplished musicians in the local scene have helped Michael embrace his place as one of Austin's new and growing talents.

In an era of artists that blend and take few risks, Michael Dillard is an energizing raw talent that will certainly leave his mark embedded in the live music capital of the world.

JoDee Purkeypile

Album Title:Messenger

Bio: When JoDee Purkeypile decided to pursue a solo career after his band, The Alice Rose, ran its course, he saw no need to give himself a mysterious pseudonym or odd nickname. When you’re born with a name as distinctive as his, Purkeypile notes, why would you? And with a new album titled MESSENGER (Feb. 19, 2013), it makes sense to let people know just who that messenger really is. Purkeypile also has heritage to consider: Though he was raised in Austin, he was born in Lubbock, where his father, Dee Purkeypile, played organ with Jesse “Guitar” Taylor, Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. And Dee’s musician great-grandfather was a master of many instruments.

But don’t expect to hear the usual Texas twang in Purkeypile’s music. His influences emanate from more distant locales — most notably Seattle and the United Kingdom. Captivated early on by both ‘60s British invaders and grunge, he adapted a sound that’s part power pop, part rock riffage and part Beatles-meet-Kinks on a sunny afternoon.

MESSENGER is a natural progression from his first solo album, 2011’s OCTOBER HOUSE, and his previous work with The Alice Rose, which included national touring, an NPR Song of the Day (in 2006, for “West,” a track from their debut, PHONOGRAPHIC MEMORY) and inclusion in Austin Monthly magazine’s “Eight to Watch in 2008” music feature. “West” also landed in the horror film, “Splinter.” In 2011, Purkeypile’s solo work earned him the distinction of being the only artist featured twice in that magazine’s annual up-and-comers music feature. That led to official City of Austin recognition of its release date, July 28, 2011, as JoDee Purkeypile Day. International airplay and inclusion on several bloggers’ year-end best-of lists followed.

Though Purkeypile recorded every part of OCTOBER HOUSE on his own, MESSENGER features contributions by several players, including two former Alice Rose members — keyboardist Brendan Rogers and bassist Sean Crooks, Purkeypile’s oldest musical cohort besides his dad.

“I met Sean at middle school,” Purkeypile recalls. “He had on a Metallica shirt; he was kind of a geeky guy tryin’ to look cool. I had long hair, so he was like, ‘I’ll go talk to this guy.’”

Purkeypile already had some musical skill by then; he’d been banging away since age 5 on a Ludwig drumkit his father had obtained in trade for a Leslie speaker.

“That was my thing till I was about 12, and then I heard Nirvana,” he relates. The first day his family got cable, he saw their “Heart-Shaped Box” video on MTV and knew that’s what he wanted to do. He also figured he should pick up a guitar.

It just so happened that Crooks’ father owned the Steamboat, a legendary Austin music club, and sometimes brought home gear that had been left behind. When Purkeypile saw Crooks’ garage full of instruments, he realized, “This might not be too bad a guy to hook up with.”

They’ve been friends and musical collaborators ever since. At first, they played Nirvana covers and “easy punk stuff,” Purkeypile remembers. Then he got a Beatles song book, learned the chords, started connecting the dots, and began writing his own songs.

His Mersey-meets-Britpop sensibilities translate into a melodic lilt that filters from Peter & Gordon through the Zombies and early Fleetwood Mac to Nick Lowe and Squeeze. With forays into territory inhabited by Free and the Faces. (Apparently, it’s just coincidence that his illustrator girlfriend is from Market Drayton, in Shropshire, England, and OCTOBER HOUSE is named after a residence there.)

But Purkeypile, who explored acting as a child and has crafted several music videos, is hardly a one-dimensional retro artist. He also cites the impact of performers such as Roky Erickson, the late Richard Manuel of the Band, Mick Jagger, Glenn Danzig and Johnny Marr, and mentions how much he likes artists such as Spoon and Fleet Foxes. And no one who’s listened to Purkeypile’s work — solo, with The Alice Rose or even in his very first band, PigGie Hat — would make the mistake of writing him off as derivative.

“I’m trying to combine the ‘60s influences I heard growing up with some of the contemporary influences I might pick up on just through the radio or at clubs and shows,” he explains. “I take bits of everything I hear and try to approach it in my own way.”

That would include his subject matter. While OCTOBER HOUSE focused on “the struggles of long-distance relationships,” MESSENGER, co-produced by Matt Smith at Hot Tracks Studio in Bastrop, outside of Austin, channels a variety of themes. The title tune, in fact, was inspired by the work of horror/sci-fi novelist H.P. Lovecraft. (“I’m still not sure what it’s about,” confesses Purkeypile, an avid reader and book collector.) “Cruel Movements” was composed on piano in the aftermath of a “strange” night out with old friends. “I Think It’s Alright” explores some self-doubts; the harpsichord-laced “Storm on the Sea of You and Me,” his personal favorite among the album’s 10 tracks, came from a dream and the Smiths song, “Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want.”

Purkeypile does want to convey that even though “pop” is among the words used to describe his indie pop-rock sound, it has nothing to do with the product churned out by today’s mass-marketed purveyors. Purkeypile says he thinks of pop in terms of those brilliant ‘60s and ‘70s tunesmiths who experimented freely with melody and lyrics — and who could record entire songs in one day, as he and co-producer Matt Smith did for MESSENGER.

You know who they are. And if Purkeypile reminds you of them, as he notes, “That classic influence, I mean, you can’t deny it anyway. It’s everywhere. And it’s better than being compared to somebody not as cool.”

Vallejo

Bio: A melting pot of infectious swaggering rock laced with Latin percussion and fiery live performances has made VALLEJO one of the most popular bands to hail from Austin, Texas.

Raised in the small town of El Campo, Texas on their parent’s LP collection of Tito Puente, Santana & Tijuana Brass, VALLEJO was first formed by the three Vallejo brothers A.J. (Vocals, Guitar), Alejandro (Drums), and Omar (Bass). Learning music by playing trumpet in the high school marching band and jamming to friend’s mixtapes of classic rock and funk, the brothers eventually migrated to picking up the guitar, bass and drums to create something that was instantly recognizable on the airwaves as their own.

Since then, VALLEJO has racked up fans one by one with thousands of high energy shows and a growing catalog of album releases including Sins (Chapel Lane), Shining Sun, Beautiful Life (TVT Records), Into the New (Epic Records) with famed Latin music producer Emilio Estefan Jr. (Miami Sound Machine), Stereo, Leftovers, Steamboat Live & Black Sky on the Vallejo brother’s own label VMG (Vallejo Music Group). In 2009, VALLEJO released their critically acclaimed album, Thicker Than Water (VMG/Quadra) and recently took home the award for “Best Rock Band” at the Texas Latin Music Awards.

VALLEJO has toured extensively throughout the United States and Mexico sharing the stage with bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Fuel, 3 Doors Down, Juanes, Molotov, Black Crowes, The Foo Fighters, Matchbox 20, Shinedown & Los Lobos. The band has also had their songs featured in several TV shows such as HBO’s True Blood, ABC’s The Unusuals, WB’s Roswell, MTV’s Road Rules and UPN’s America’s Next Top Model.

In 2012, VALLEJO is back with their first new album in four years entitled Brothers Brew and set to be released on Tuesday, August 21st. Written, recorded & produced by the Vallejo brothers, the CD will feature ten new songs recorded at VMG Studios in South Austin, Texas. Featuring the first single & video for the mid-tempo groover “Waiting On You”, bombastic opening track “Free” and album closer “Nothing To Lose” – Vallejo’s new CD Brothers Brew proves that for this band of brothers – the rhythm is undeniably still in the blood.

Jess & The Echoes

Bio:Jess and the Echoes is a fresh dynamic to the world of modern pop music. Formed in Austin, Texas the band naturally absorbs the energy of a music scene that thrives on bold and unique artists. They are led by the powerful and stirring vocals of Jess Kellner. Her expansive vocal depth reaches deep into an audience with a captivating emotional connection.

The stage presence of Jess is supported by the solid musical foundation known as The Echoes. Cole Gramling is the electrifying keyboardist and backup vocalist that Sparks the band's dominant impact. Casey Savage is the lead guitarist that gives a careful edge to addictive arrangements and Ryan Parker is the drummer who provides the pocket for this standout ensemble.

This remarkable young band has a broad and enthusiastic take on music that will certainly connect with any audience. They are the epitome of what happens when performing becomes less about style and technique and more about the quality of the moment.

Nakia

Album Title: Drown In The Crimson Tide

Bio: Austin-based, Alabama-raised singer/songwriter Nakia has a heart that beats to the rhythms of Muscle Shoals soul, pumping blood infused with Stax funk to cells lined with Chicago blues grooves. His vocal talent is the kind that instantly turns listeners into fans — among them CeeLo Green, who invited Nakia to sing on his Muppets Christmas special.

On his new EP, Drown in the Crimson Tide, releasing March 5 on Something-Music, Nakia unleashes that voice on six songs he wrote in collaboration with top-tier artists including Barry Goldberg, Bleu, Chris Seefried, Aris Archontis and Brian West. Nakia is performing all over Austin for SXSW. Find all the info at http://nakia.me/nakia-sxsw;http://nakia.me/nakia-sxsw

Ray Prim

Album Title: Make It Do What It Do

Bio:Ray Prim is a Singer Soulwriter based in Austin, Texas. Alongside April Stephens, John Ray, Alberto Ferrer, Kreole Randolph and Mike Robledo, Ray takes you back to the days when songs were inspiring, meaningful and thought provoking. His songs are melody-based short stories that anyone can related to. Ray's four studio CD's "This Ain't Rocket Science," "Sherman Ray Prim, Jr.," "The World According to Me and Miss Shenequah Jones" and "Beautiful Mistakes" take listeners on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from laughter to tears. His live shows take his music up a level by adding special guests and frequently having the audience sing along. Hungry people don't stay hungry for long and Ray is starving to make music that will put a smile on your face. Have a listen, spread the word, and it's a guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Wheeler Brothers

Bio: Making music continues to be a family affair for Wheeler Brothers. The Austin, TX quintet traces a personal lineage of rock, folk, roots, Americana, and blues on its second full-length album, Gold Boots Glitter [Bismeaux Records], cooking up an irresistible and inimitable gumbo of styles in the process. Marching forward from 2011's critically acclaimed Portraits, the group—Nolan Wheeler [vocals, guitar], Patrick Wheeler [drums], Tyler Wheeler [bass], A.J. Molyneaux [lap steel, harmonica], and Nathan Rigney [guitar, backup vocals]—opens the door even wider for everyone to join the family.

Gold Boots Glitter began to stomp to life while the band was on the road supporting Portraits. Holed up in a Wichita hotel for two blisteringly cold days in early 2012, the boys began sharing ideas for what would eventually become their next batch of tunes.

They made their national television debut on Last Call with Carson Daily and received widespread acclaim from tastemakers including Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, AOL Spinner, The Washington Post, Elmore Magazine, and The Austin Chronicle to name a few. In addition, they swept the "Austin Music Awards" at SXSW, winning "Best New Band", "Best Roots Rock Band", Nolan Wheeler for "Best Acoustic Guitar", Tyler Wheeler for "Best Bass", and A.J. Molyneaux for "Best Miscellaneous Instrument" for lap steel. Meanwhile, their label, Bismeaux Records was named "Best Local Label".

At the end of the day, Wheeler Brothers are welcoming everyone to put on Gold Boots Glitter and become a part of their musical dynasty. "We consider the listeners our extended family," Nolan concludes. "We want people to feel like they're a part of our music. To have their support is the most powerful thing in the world. They've brought us here, and they'll be a part of this family forever."

Tom Meny

Album Title: On My Way

Bio: As the title of his debut album suggests, Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Tom Meny is definitely on his way. After being named the Southwest regional finalist for NPR’s 2012 Mountain Stage NewSong contest, making it to the Top 5 overall, scoring over 2 million YouTube views and getting name-dropped by none other than The Swell Season’s Glen Hansard, Meny is ready to unleash his Kickstarter-supported project on the world on February 19. And Meny isn’t the only one who is excited about this.

On My Way’s content is so interwoven into the fabric of Meny’s life that this refrain from “No Anger” even appears in the album’s penultimate song, “Road.” This lyrical choice helps bring a greater level of symmetry and depth to the album, highlighting Meny’s desire to live life in a way that is charismatic and filled with passion for what he does. By having no anger, no envy, no fear and no regrets, Meny hopes to ensure that his fans will seek out a similar direction for their own lives.

Reed Turner

Album Title:Ghosts in the Attic

Bio: Turner’s new release, produced by Matt Noveskey, conveys the Berklee College of Music graduate’s growth as a songwriter and musician since the release of his 2011 EP, SIDE ONE: SEE HOW FAR I GET. That one earned widespread praise, including the Austin Chronicle’s declaration of his status as “a blossoming Texas troubadour” and Austin Women magazine’s labeling of his work as “expressive, relevant and wise.”

It also led to appearances at the 2012 International Folk Alliance conference in Memphis — and to a year spent traveling with his band and opening for acts such as Will Hoge, Bob Schneider and Joe Pug. Turner also has built strong collaborative bonds with fiddler and fellow singer-songwriter Phoebe Hunt (including as a member of her band) and bassist Pat Harris, both of whom play in his band and share writing credit on the GHOSTS track, “Long Gone.” Hunt and singer Ellie Carroll add beautiful harmonies to several tracks on the album, including the revealing ballad “Room for Doubt.”

That’s one of two leadoff singles; the other is “Killed that Girl (’Cause She Was Killin’ Me)” a clever murder tale with a bit of a rockabilly beat. Turner admits he enjoys twisting a good murder yarn, in true Americana style.

Courrier

Album Title: Cathedral of Colors

Bio: In the fall of 2006, Austin Jones (lead vocals/guitar/keys) and Philip Edsel (guitar) met at the University of Texas, and founded the band, Courrier. Shortly thereafter, they added fellow Texas natives, Nathan Drake (drums) and Taylor Bartholomew (bass), to the band. The two quickly fell into place. Nathan introduced a whole new level of professionalism and skill to an already talented group of musicians, and Taylor elevated their sound with his showmanship and synthesizer obsession.

In late 2012, Courrier began work on their next album and found their writing process had matured. “On the last record, one of us would write a song and present it to the band as a completed work. We would ask each other, “What do you want to add to it?”” recollects guitarist Philip. “But when we started writing for the new album, we wanted to approach it more cohesively. Instead of finishing a song, we’d bring an initial idea to the rest of the guys in the band and ask, “Where do you want to take this idea?” And honestly, it was a lot more difficult for us. You can imagine that when you have four differing opinions, a song can be pulled in many different directions. But at the end of the day, once the song was finished, we realized that the finished product was far better than it could have been had we written it on our own.”

To lead them through this writing process, Courrier recruited the legendary Tim Palmer, producer and engineer of alternative superstars like U2 and Pearl Jam. The final result of those months of writing, demoing, rewriting, and recording, is Courrier’s sophomore album, “Cathedrals of Color”, scheduled for release in March of 2013. Cathedrals serve as a metaphor for home, the central concept of the album. Every song is a chapter in the story of a protagonist, looking for, losing and locating some semblance of home. Courrier’s first single off “Cathedrals of Color”, “Love is a Fire,” was featured on, The CW’s, Gossip Girl and the trailer for, Meryl Streep’s, Hope Springs. It peaked in the top 40 at Triple A radio. Courrier is preparing to release their second single as well as preparing for a national tour to support the album release.

Next Show: Friday, February 8th at Antone’s with Suite 709, Aaron Ivey and Tori Vasquez